However, for now, the safety of their coexistence is achieved by separating these kinds of traffic, for example by means of dynamic airspace reconfiguration or establishing dedicated corridors for UAM services.
“In this context, a challenge for airspace management systems and procedures is to allow for quick airspace (re)configurations and ensure a seamless and secure information exchange between the involved stakeholders, including reactions to off-normal situations”, she adds.
Both manned VoloCity or an unmanned VoloDrone need to be integrated to the airspace, properly equipped, and able to interact with their respective traffic management service provider.
To develop concepts and solutions, Volocopter is participating in various projects aimed at further development and validation of traffic management concepts which are formative in launching the industry. Volocopter successfully demonstrated the integration of Volocopter UAM flights in ATM and Unmanned Air Traffic Management (UTM) systems with flights at the Helsinki International airport in the frame of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Gulf of Finland project two years ago. As a result, Volocopter has become a consortium member of the CORUS XUAM project, which is one of the few European lighthouse projects encompassing exceptionally large-scale Europewide UAM demonstrations and the definition of the concept of operations. We also support the evaluation of concepts such as flight-centric sectorless traffic management, system wide information management (SWIM), airport collaborative decision making (A-CDM), airport operations plans (AOPs) or trajectory based operations (TBOs) to be adapted for the UAM industry.
Because of the nature of the short-distance flight, the subject of minimum flight heights must be addressed. ICAO’s Rules of the Air, which are also reflected in the Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA), include limitations on flights above congested areas, and local governments can restrict or alleviate the intended altitude and routes of UAM operations. Moreover, the coverage of Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) services in urban zones can be limited, due to low flight altitudes. The challenge includes the introduction of reliable detect-and-avoid mechanisms. Another factor will be weather information: current meteorological services may not be suited enough for UAM city weather reports, where local gusts or changes of temperature may occur. Volocopter has identified all those urban operating characteristics as part of developing workable solutions and actively discussing their application with competent authorities.
In addition to airspace and regulation, interoperability and connectivity are also on the list of industry challenges. Volocopter adresses this by providing an integrated solution where information coming from existing surveillance systems and a combination of data providers can be processed and placed into a sensible picture, which reliably provides information to the pilot. This requires an aviationgrade connectivity service in the urban environment. We are developing a digital backbone for the UAM ecosystem, VoloIQ, to bridge this gap in connectivity while preparing for supporting technologies like 5G.
UAM is a technological revolution, a regulatory challenge and a unique opportunity for growth. Within the current framework, UAM operations can launch, but for their successful development, adjusted and new regulations and standards will play a pivotal role. Aviation regulators around the globe have heeded the call and are addressing these needs. In Europe, EASA and the European Commission are developing the necessary legal framework to safely integrate UAM to European airspace. Volocopter values the ongoing regulatory development and supports it both in Europe and globally by open communication and dialogues with regulators and the industry. We believe that to truly bring UAM to life, rulemaking and technology need to work hand in hand as pioneers on this frontier. We also continuously emphasise the importance of harmonising standardisation activities for the UAM industry, not only in Europe, but also as a common approach towards its implementation globally.
These are the main challenges that UAM will need to address. There are more, and new ones will arise, as we create this new form of mobility – as is with every industry. UAM is not only about new aircraft but about new concepts and solutions in various aviation domains. Volocopter is aware of and pioneering that, while partnering with experts in regulation, air traffic management, infrastructure, airports, logistics, unmanned aircraft system traffic management, and digital solutions to bring urban air mobility to life. Furthermore, we believe that making progress day by day, hand in hand with the regulators, local authorities, stakeholders and the industry is the only effective way to enable UAM to take off and scale up all around the world. The aim of enhancing mobility in cities can only be achieved if we work and think globally. What can be seen as a challenge, is also a great opportunity for change.