Aerobility and CIVATAglobal Release Whitepaper on Accessibility in Urban Air Mobility

Regulators, local authorities and industry groups will need to incorporate the views and priorities of disabled groups in their early planning phase if the promise - and full market value - of advanced air mobility (AAM) and urban air mobility (UAM) systems are to be fully realised, according to a white paper published by Aerobility and CIVATAglobal.

According to the White Paper these are key areas which need to be addressed, urgently. First is ensuring developers of UAM ground infrastructure and platforms fully take into account the needs of disabled passengers – and the non-travelling public - in considering issues of access and egress. Second, aviation safety regulators must take account of the needs of people with reduced mobility in their regulations. Third, in smart city programs where autonomous vehicles are being planned (air and ground), it is vital that disabled community groups are incorporated into the earliest planning. Before eVTOLs are flying in our cities they will have to be given not just an aviation safety regulator’s certificate to fly but a licence from the communities they will be serving. Fourth, a repository of “best practices” from around the world needs to be launched so developers can understand not just the basic principles but the detailed engineering solutions.

The White Paper can be accessed here: Urban Air Mobility - White Paper — Aerobility