Advanced Air Mobility – a Symphony, Not a Solo

The aerospace industry is entering a new era, marked by the rise of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and electrified transport. This shift promises to revolutionise how we travel, but achieving this vision requires more than developing new aircraft or modernising airspace. It demands a fully operational ecosystem: from integrated airspace for all airspace users, to development of new regulatory frameworks, the building of vertiports and the charging capabilities, approval of new aircraft types, and new digital airspace management services.  And the capabilities need to be in place in the next 2 to 3 years. 

It’s a symphony, not a solo.  

While each of the representatives on our GUAAS panel brought their own areas of expertise to the room, there was consensus that it is industry-wide partnerships that will ultimately enable seamless end-to-end operations. 

For NATS, the focus is on creating innovative technology solutions that will support the integration, at scale, of drones and eVTOLs into existing UK and international operations.  Creating a digital infrastructure for airspace management is critical, one that integrates seamlessly with traditional systems to safely manage all traffic in any situation and is able to meet the higher volumes anticipated.   

The importance of an interconnected approach across the industry is underscored by our participation in the Future Flight Challenge (Future Flight Challenge – Research & development – NATS), where consortium members are collaboratively exploring how to activate a robust AAM ecosystem.  

The panel featuring Diana Cooper – Supernal, Alan Lim – Alton Aviation Consultancy, Oscar Lara – Crisalion, Jia Xu – SkyGrid, Richard Ellis – NATS

Public acceptance is also vital for success. Like the adoption of mobile phones, society are being asked to adapt to new types of vehicles in our skies. UKRI’s recent publication (Framework for future flight in the UK: principles from a public dialogue – UKRI)– indicates that acceptance is growing as we grow accustomed to this new form of transport.   

Safety is also paramount. Integration into the existing airspace requires comprehensive protocols and clarity around regulatory policies and frameworks to support the diverse use cases, ensuring safety of new aircraft in a shared airspace. 

The journey towards advanced air mobility is a collaborative effort. By partnering across the industry, we can create a future where AAM is not just a concept, but a reality that transforms how we travel.   

Cue Samuel Barber: Symphony No. 2 “Flight Symphony” for my first AAM flight.