An Airport-Centric Study of the Urban Air Mobility Market

Urban air mobility (UAM) is a safe and efficient system for passenger and cargo air transportation within an urban area. It includes small package delivery and other urban unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and supports a mix of onboard/ground-piloted and, increasingly, autonomous operations. UAM has developed rapidly due to advances in technology. A number of firms are developing automated aerial vehicle and piloted aerial vehicle prototypes, and pilot projects are underway in Dubai and planned for Dallas and Los Angeles in the early 2020s. The UAM market is potentially broad (e.g., personal commuting, air ambulance, law enforcement). Due to the recent emergence of this technology, there is little research on the topic, yet airports need to understand and anticipate the effects of a potential UAM market, including anticipated market growth, vehicle types and uses, airspace impacts and management, community and environmental impacts, regulatory changes, financial implications, and other issues. The objectives of this research are to (1) assess whether a legitimate UAM market exists, and, if so, anticipate the general timing of the market’s growth; (2) understand potential political, social, technological, environmental, and legal implications; and (3) identify possible effects on airports and how airports can prepare for this potential market.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4624
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $350000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 03-50

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Airport Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Project Managers:

  Navarrete, Joseph

• Start Date: 20180731
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airports; Drones; Impacts; Market assessment; Mobility; Transportation planning; Urban areas
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01677268
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 03-50
• Files: TRB, RiP
• Created Date: Jul 30 2018 3:03PM