What is in a Name: Defining Key Terms in Urban Air Mobility

Abstract

As the world’s population increases, new ways of improving transportation systems in, around and between urban areas are being suggested. Early discussions on this have been technology-focused, pointing at the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for cargo delivery and electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft for passenger transportation. Recently, the term ‘Urban Air Mobility’ has become widely used to encompass these vehicles within a new mobility ecosystem. However, due to deficiencies in this term, other proposals – namely ‘Advanced Air Mobility’, ‘New Air Mobility and ‘Innovative Air Mobility’ – have emerged. The rise in different terms can lead to confusion as their scope is not always fully known or appreciated, and they are often used interchangeably. This paper, therefore, shifts focus from the recent debate about the definition of ‘UAS’ to the aforementioned ecosystem terms so to address and evaluate them as potentially different aspects of the same concept. An interpretive approach of the terms, an assessment of their major characteristics, as well as an analysis of their relationship with the aircraft types will take place. This will show the scope of these terms so that the context can be properly understood and then appropriately applied.