European Regulators Discuss Pathway to Urban Air Mobility at GAMA Talks

European aviation regulators and corporate officials from eight countries met last month to address growth in the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) market. Talks led by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) took place in Brussels and Cologne. Discussion was centered around safely introducing the support structure necessary for “making flying more accessible to the public”. Talks included sessions on certification, maintenance, operations, licensing and airspace management. GAMA eVTOL sub-committee co-chair Anna Dietich released a statement previewing the determination of attendees to accommodate emerging aircraft technology. She said, “leveraging the body of existing rules and standards wherever possible while appropriately addressing the new aspects of this industry will help us efficiently achieve our shared goals for safe, innovative vehicles that provide significant value to society.”

British aerospace giant Rolls Royce’s electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) concepts. One of many futuristic flying taxi aircraft currently under development in Europe.

These talks are part of promising cooperation between European regulatory officials and the urban air mobility industry. One attendee of the talks, German Federal State Minister for Digitisation Dorothee Bär, affirmed regulatory intentions by stating, “I think there is tremendous potential for Europe and beyond, urban air mobility will become part of our daily life”.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association is a professional organization committed to promoting interests of the aviation industry. Their mission as published on the GAMA website is, “to foster and advance the general welfare, safety, interests and activities of the global business and general aviation industry.” Members of the multi-national organization are companies and business units “directly responsible for and primarily engaged in the production or manufacture of general aviation products.”

Terrafugia TF-2 air vehicle concept. Terrafugia was one of several companies represented in the talks.

Why it’s Important: As new urban air mobility/flying taxi concepts become commercially available, regulatory agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will need to manage regulatory policy to ensure safe operation within the existing airspace. Talks like this one are crucial to enforce collaboration between all stakeholders involved.