The Australian Association for Unmanned Systems (AAUS) is looking to boost the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) when it stages its inaugural AAM Summit conference in Melbourne next month. The two-day event (September 1-2) is expected to bring together a wide array of senior industry figures as well as local, state, and federal government officials and other stakeholders, including infrastructure owners and property developers.

In May, Australia’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications (DITRDC) published its National Emerging Aviation Technologies (NEAT) policy statement. The government estimates that expansion of drone operations and wider AAM services is set to add A$14.5 billion ($10.7 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product over the next 20 years and support around 5,500 new jobs.

Under the NEAT policy statement, the government will coordinate a consistent approach to the regulation of drone operations across the country and will also institute an infrastructure planning framework to support the development of takeoff, landing, and delivery sites for eVTOL aircraft and drones as well as wider infrastructure needs.

The document additionally summarizes key responsibilities for air traffic control agency Airservices Australia in developing an unmanned aircraft system traffic management system. It tasks the country’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Airservices, defense department, and other government agencies with coordinating multiple aspects of AAM regulation, with a road map expected to be published before year-end. In 2021, CASA is also tasked with producing a regulatory roadmap, in consultation with industry, while the DITRDC will coordinate with local, state, and territorial officials over noise limits for aircraft.

The Australian government has committed to establishing the Emerging Aviation Technology Partnership to act as a platform for channeling support to the industry. Industry and government partners will be selected by 2022 when the program is due to launch.

According to Clem Newton-Brown, a former member of the Victoria state parliament who founded AAM infrastructure specialist Skyportz, Australian authorities have demonstrated a willingness to support the integration of new types of electric and autonomous aircraft into the country’s public transportation network. The Melbourne-based company is now working with partners in the property sector to develop the infrastructure needed for passenger and cargo operations in both manned and autonomously operated vehicles.

“Australia and its aviation agencies led the world in approving Wing drone deliveries years before such trials were being considered in most countries,” Newton-Brown told FutureFlight. “This can-do attitude is evident in this policy paper, which has given airframe developers the confidence to explore certification in Australia.”

The AAM Summit will include keynote addresses by Naa Opoku, DITDRC’s assistant secretary for safety and future technologies, and CASA chief executive Pip Spence. The program also includes a presentation by Airservices Australia on how it sees traffic management for urban air mobility developing in the country.

Among the eVTOL aircraft developers booked to speak at the conference are Wisk, Eve Urban Air Mobility Solutions, and Bell. Newton-Brown will present on AAM infrastructure needs, along with Michael Dyment of Nexa Advisors, design group Arup, and Skyports.

You can find full details of the event on the AAUS website.

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