UAM4Gov - Closing the AAM/UAM skills gap for members of city and local government

**Local authorities have a critical role** to play in the development of urban air mobility/advanced air mobility (UAM/AAM) and municipal drone services in the UK.

**Around 100 cities in the world** have started planning for electric air taxi services and research by the trade association CIVATAglobal in 2022 identified 15 areas where local authorities have a direct responsibility for engaging with regulators and operators to ensure the safe and environmentally responsible operation of drones and passenger carrying electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) in their community. These include: protecting citizens from the clueless, careless and the criminal drone operators; identifying appropriate take-off and landing sites; protecting areas of environmental concern; and using drones intelligently to save lives, reduce local authority-derived carbon emissions and improve service delivery.

**Yet most UK local governments** are unaware of the challenges and the opportunities presented by this fast-developing sector.

**UAM4Gov will develop an internet-based educational platform** with six initial courses designed for the professional, complemented by a resource library and a series of ask-the-expert interactive seminars which will provide local authorities with a vital resource to understand their role in developing drone and UAM/AAM eco-systems. These resources will help transform the lives of their citizens and accelerate the UK's industrial potential in this strategically important global industry.

**The Future Flight grant** will fund the development of the interactive educational platform; six initial professional courses for local government decision makers; a resource library of contacts, experts and white-paper source material; and the first of a series of quarterly ask-the-expert interactive seminars.