Boeing Saudi Arabia and the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) have initiated a feasibility analysis to explore the operational and regulatory viability of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration, supported by SkyGrid and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), seeks to advance the implementation of GACA's AAM Roadmap, paving the way for future Automated Flight Rules (AFR) operations across the Kingdom.
The feasibility analysis will assess AAM routes, cooperative airspace areas, and necessary infrastructure, including vertiports and airports, to ensure safe and sustainable operations for both piloted and remotely piloted aerial vehicles. The project will address operations under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), and ultimately AFR, aiming for medium-density, medium-complexity operations with automated systems.
Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi, Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, stated, "This initiative reflects GACA's commitment to advancing innovation whilst maintaining the highest levels of safety and operational integrity."
The study will conduct a gap analysis to identify the required technology and infrastructure for supporting Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and autonomous aircraft operations. This will lead to an Infrastructure and Technology Roadmap, defining roles and responsibilities of AAM stakeholders and proposing regulatory changes for seamless integration into existing air traffic management frameworks.
Asaad Aljomoai, President of Boeing Saudi Arabia, emphasised the importance of the study in aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 and supporting the Kingdom's ambition to lead in AAM. The project will leverage SkyGrid's expertise in digital operations and AAM traffic management, whilst KAUST will provide research and technical expertise.
The initiative aims to deliver a comprehensive assessment and gap analysis to support the advancement of the GACA AAM Roadmap, enabling safe, scalable, and efficient AAM operations in Saudi Arabia
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