Research project
Innovative Air Mobility (IAM)
The project tackles the need to establish a comprehensive legal framework that supports the integration of Innovative Air Mobility by incorporating emerging technologies such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft into existing mobility networks. As IAM technologies offer solutions to real-world challenges such as urban congestion and environmental sustainability, they also introduce legal complexities that must be addressed to ensure safe, secure, and sustainable development. This project specifically looks at the existing liability regimes to assess their suitability for this emerging mobility ecosystem.
- Duration
- 2023 - 2027
- Contact
- Benjamyn I. Scott
- Funding
- Starters Grants
As cities face growing congestion and environmental degradation, IAM presents transformative opportunities for sustainable transportation by taking mobility to the skies. Key applications include last-mile delivery drones and flying taxis. These aerial solutions aim to reduce road congestion, enable faster deliveries and decrease aviation emissions. IAM is evolving rapidly, driven by technological innovations including artificial intelligence (AI), big data and advanced aircraft technologies like lithium batteries and composite materials. However, the legal frameworks governing these advancements are lagging behind.
This project seeks to close the gap between the fast-paced development of IAM technologies and the legal structures needed to ensure their responsible deployment, providing a crucial contribution to the regulation of future mobility. A focus will be placed on how IAM can integrate with other modes of transport and how its risks and opportunities can be balanced through legal frameworks that harmonize safety regulations and, liability norms.
Team
This project brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers dedicated to addressing the legal challenges posed by Innovative Air Mobility. Leading the project is Dr Benjamyn I. Scott, (eLaw and International Institute of Air and Space Law) supported by key members from Leiden University, including Prof. Steven Truxal (International Institute of Air and Space Law) and Dr Gitta Veldt (Civil Law), as well as a PhD Candidate, Öykü Kurtpinar, specifically working on Innovative Air Mobility and Liability.
Research Objectives
- Develop a comprehensive analysis of the current EU and international legal frameworks governing IAM, including safety regulations, liability and stakeholder responsibilities.
- Produce a gap analysis identifying legal shortcomings in the current framework and proposing recommendations to better regulate IAM technologies.
- Propose interdisciplinary best practices for IAM integration with other modes of transport and ensure these practices are aligned with technical and operational realities.
By aligning legal frameworks with technological advancements, this project will contribute significantly to the responsible development of IAM, promoting both innovation and societal acceptance. Through collaboration with industry, regulatory bodies and academic partners, the project aims to shape a well-regulated, sustainable future for innovative air mobility.