The introduction of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, futuristic vehicles previously associated with fictional shows such as The Jetsons and Blade Runner, has brought the concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) to life sooner than expected. Despite technological advancements, perceived eVTOL costs related to safety, noise and privacy issues could potentially place this revolutionary mode of transportation in jeopardy. In this Op-Ed, I discuss strategies to mitigate some of the skepticism surrounding UAM technology to help continue advancing it from TV and movie screens to an everyday reality.
The Many Benefits of UAM: A Better World For All
Let’s start with why UAM matters to society, from both an economic, environmental and overall quality of life standpoint.
According to research, traffic congestion costs the economy $88 billion. Los Angeles commuters waste about 100 hours a year stuck in traffic. Last year alone, the traffic congestion in London, New York and Istanbul caused residents to waste time that negatively impacted man-hours, increased overtime and resulted in low overall efficiency. UAM aims to solve routing and congestion issues. Its adoption should improve economic productivity worldwide.
Air pollution has also become a critical issue. Transport accounts for 29% of greenhouse gas emissions and an estimated 24% of carbon dioxide emissions. The reliance on traditional means of transportation for traveling hurts the environment, public health and leads to climatic changes. UAM and urban transport networks, when designed cleaner with electric eVTOLs, can be capable of zero flight emissions. Integrating UAM into transport systems can help reach environmental targets and improve urban air quality across the globe.
Moving toward UAM is not only a technological development, but also a significant improvement in the way people live and use modern cities around the world. Eliminating the need for roads can make more room for parks and result in better living conditions for suburbs and urban people. UAM can reduce travel time for point-to-point trips by 30-40 percent compared to traditional modes of travel. In large cities in the U.S. and China, this time savings increases to 40-50 percent.
In short, adopting UAM can contribute to a better, more sustainable world for future generations. Below I outline an effective and doable way to achieve these goals, with methods to gain public confidence and acceptance.
Allaying Fears: Safety Rigor, Operational Trials and Storytelling
With the increasing number of eVTOL projects, risk mitigation seems to be one of the most contentious issues. Skepticism surrounding safety appears to be prevalent. To gain the public’s trust, eVTOL certification needs to be rigid, collaborations and real-world operational evaluations with regulators remain crucial and communicating UAM success stories is key.
Just like conventional aircraft, eVTOLs will have to adhere to a mix of fixed wing and rotorcraft regulations. Additional rules relate to electric motors. According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR), which governs eVTOLs, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must put triple-redundant systems in place for critical component failure, such as flight controls and batteries. For instance, Joby Aviation’s eVTOL includes six independent rotors and battery packs which provide redundancy for safe landing capability.
Working together with regulators is just as important as having stringent rules in place. Companies like Archer Aviation have collaborated with the FAA during the design phase to fill safety gaps. This helped to expedite the certification process of its Midnight eVTOL aircraft.
Validation from sources aside from regulators, such as MIT’s Aerospace Controls Laboratory, which tested Beta Technologies’ eVTOL software, can also enhance eVTOL credibility.
Certification and testing is one thing; flying in the real world is another. The use of eVTOLs in controlled environments helps to prove safety standards in global airspace systems. For example, the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has partnered with Volocopter to incorporate eVTOLs into emergency medical services. Together, they have already conducted multiple test flights with no incidents.
Telling all of these stories is just as important as achieving these milestones. The media should focus more on promoting these partnerships and successes because they are both newsworthy and they help to clear misconceptions. These successes should be featured in documentaries or live-broadcasted to bring the technology to life for the public, who may otherwise view them instead as worrying unknowns.
Quieter Skylines: Tackling Noise Pollution And Letting People Hear Firsthand
Noise also remains a visceral concern for the public. A survey in 2023 carried out by the Urban Air Mobility Initiative indicates that 41% of interviewees included noise as their primary concern for UAM. Yet eVTOLs are built to be significantly quieter than helicopters.
NASA’s Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT) project demonstrated that the use of distributed electric propulsion (DEP) systems, which employ several small rotors, cause noise levels significantly lower than that of conventional helicopters. As a point of reference, this is similar to the difference between a vacuum cleaner (75dB) and a washing machine (60dB). Further improvements in blade construction have also reduced noise. NASA’s X57 Maxwell experimental aircraft employs wingtip propellers that reduce noise during takeoff.
On this point, public engagement is very important. In 2023, Joby Aviation hosted “Community Noise Tours” in Santa Cruz which gave residents a chance to hear the company’s eVTOLs for themselves. Many participants expressed astonishment about how much quieter the aircraft were in comparison to garbage trucks or sirens.
These types of initiatives (more on this below…), paired with real-time noise monitoring applications, could help present data from reports to everyday life.
Protecting Basic Human Rights: Guaranteeing Privacy and Fairness
These days, data breaches are all too common and the world seems as inequitable as ever. UAM proponents must, by necessity, keep privacy and equity in mind when designing business models.
On the privacy front, Embraer’s Eve Air Mobility has implemented blockchain-based encryption software for real-time air traffic management (ATM) systems. This allows the company to share their location and passenger information while also protecting the passenger identity and user data from exposure or tampering. While presently delayed, Airbus’s CityAirbus NextGen also intends to anonymize flight paths after operations to stop users from tracking their flight paths retroactively.
Equity is just as much a concern. Some critics suggest that UAM has the potential to become a rich person’s playground. This, they say, will further widen the gap between the wealthy and poor. Policies can avert this. For example, São Paulo, Brazil requires that 20% of eVTOL routes be dedicated to low-income areas. These are funded by a 5% surcharge on more expensive tickets. Hyundai Supernal, Archer Aviation and several other eVTOL manufacturers also aim to offer short-distance flights at prices similar to rideshare services.
Public-private partnerships can help democratize access for UAM. The city of Oslo already has Entur, a single-window operation app for public intra-city transport. Members of the public can use this App to book multi-modal trips with Avinor, an eVTOL air carrier.
The Importance of Communication: Filling in the Mistrust Gap
Communication is the one thread that must be weaved through all of the various strategies aimed at garnering public support for UAM. Outreach must be guided by compassion and innovation. Trust remains to be earned. Public relations (PR) advertising campaigns alone will not suffice. Experience has proven that actions speak louder than words. The UAM industry must orient its focus towards getting the public involved through engaging activities.
In 2024, Eve Air Mobility introduced Vector, an urban ATM (UATM) e-solution which can incorporate a virtual reality (VR) program, in Singapore with great success. Vector allows users to fly eVTOLs in virtual cities while simultaneously solving operational problems.
Similarly, at transit locations, augmented reality (AR) cubicles can enable passengers to fathom the integration of eVTOLs into the skyline. This could help to ease concerns over visual pollution in cities.
Grassroots participation is just as important. Possible community-level organisations such as the Alliance for Sustainable Urban Air Mobility can organize monthly town meetings where residents, engineers and policymakers collaboratively develop solutions for noise control. These meetings can convert doubters into active participants to nurture maturity in UAM’s deployment.
Anti-disinformation efforts are also essential. Not-for-profit organizations like the Vertical Flight Society could set up an “eVTOL Fact Check” website based on peer-reviewed data to bust myths. TikTok link-ups with people like pilot Trevor Jacob (1.2M followers) can highlight UAM vehicle test flying.
So much more can be done…
The Flightpath to the Future: Winning Hearts and Minds for UAM
Changing public thinking from doubt to acceptance entails more than just technology upgrades. It will require a social agreement. If we reimagine UAM safety risk management with redundancy, construct quieter skies, protect privacy, enforce equity – and show, not just tell people about all of this – we can make UAM evolve from a progressive symbol of elitism to a revolutionary beacon of achievement. The cities of Dubai and Oslo are already demonstrating that this is possible. The UAM community needs to focus on listening, learning and building trust one rotor spin at a time. The limit is not the sky…it’s the future we will create as a team!
*For 25 years, Captain Fahad ibne Masood, MRAeS has forged global aviation policy, prioritizing safety and innovation. Leading training and development over 2500 aviators, He champions human-centered progress. His expertise in risk management and accident investigation ensures practical, sustainable aviation advancements, shaping a safer, more connected future. His work is driven by a deep commitment to elevating AAM worldwide.**The AAMI is a Media Partner of Autonomy Global. Learn more here.
Realistic Approaches for Broad-Based UAM Integration:
- Community Co-Design: Create citizen advisory boards in designated test areas to gather suggestions concerning vertiport sites and flight paths.
- Subsidized Access: Fund UAM from public-private partnerships and set up non-discrimination policies (eg. minimal 15% of the seats on the eVTOL reserved for economically disadvantaged passengers).
- Noise Transparency: Deploy sound sensors equipped with internet-of-things (IoT) sensors along corridors to monitor noise for public viewing via dashboards.
- Data Ethics Committees: Conduct spot checks to scrutinize how UAM partners manage data privacy, with fines for non-compliance.
- Workforce Development: Collaborate with community colleges to offer assistance to economically disadvantaged groups and employ them as eVTOL technicians and experts.
By: Captain Fahad ibne Masood, MRAeS* for the Advanced Air Mobility Institute (AAMI)**