Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a developing form of aviation. A range of innovative technologies will enable AAM operations, including new aircraft designs, initially crewed and expected to transition to uncrewed, that transport passengers and larger freight.
Advancements and innovations in this sector are also flowing into other technologies, with progress made in:
- hybrid and electrification of propulsion systems
- energy storage
- novel aircraft design processes including digital twins
- lightweight materials
- digitalisation facilitating transfer of increasing amounts of information
- continued development of automation.
These innovations have made new types of vehicles that include:
- spanning multi-rotor
- tilt-wing
- tilt-rotor
- powered wing
- short take-off and landing (STOL)
- vertical take-off and landing (VTOL).
The required performance and level of automation of potential operations varies a lot, with different AAM concepts largely falling into 2 operational sub-categories:
- Urban air mobility (UAM): short to medium range and endurance designed for low altitude point-to-point passenger or cargo carrying tasks in, and between, urban areas.
- Regional air mobility (RAM): short to medium range and endurance designed for point-to-point passenger or cargo carrying tasks between regional areas.
AAM has the potential to improve:
- transportation accessibility
- sustainability and mobility
- quality of the environment, life, safety, and security of citizens.
You can find our plan for developing a regulatory framework for AAM operations in the RPAS-AAM Roadmap.
Activity status in the immediate to near term
We have started building our workforce capability and capacity to support regulatory inputs for the development and deployment of AAM operations.
We initially expected work around AAM to increase and demand more of our attention through 2023 and into 2024. AAM deployment in Australia and around the world is likely to happen later than initially expected. As a result, the original deadlines for AAM-related tasks may not be as crucial as we initially thought.
We have started researching competency and training requirements of operationally critical people involved in RPAS and AAM operations. This research will help us identify future regulatory change needs.
We are developing a certification pathway for AAM aircraft developed in Australia. Once international airworthiness policy is settled, we expect to see guidance published on AAM standards.
Other activities expected to continue throughout 2024-2025 include:
- policy activities for licensing of pilots and maintenance personnel
- initial and continuing airworthiness
- airspace and flight operations matters.
Activity status in the medium term
In the medium-term, advancements in technology will drive large numbers of aircraft designs. We also expect to see a blurring of lines between remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) technologies, AAM, and traditional aircraft systems.
We expect most of the preparatory work for RPAS and AAM operations to finish sometime between 2026-2031.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in Europe are working together on detailed safety regulatory policy work for the certification of AAM vehicles.
We expect ongoing implementation activities through to a potential Australian deployment date in 2027.
This is dependent on FAA or EASA meeting their published timelines for foreign initial airworthiness certification.
Implementation is also dependent on manufacturers commitments to make deployment in Australia a priority. These factors are subject to change.
Activity status in the long term
In the longer term we will continue to monitor the regulatory framework to make sure processes and requirements remain fit-for-purpose.