Working together to support advanced aviation industry

The Australian and Victorian governments have agreed to develop a safe and sustainable Advanced Air Mobility industry – such as aerial electric vehicles and advanced freight drones.

Aerial electric vehicles and advanced freight drones could take to the skies sooner after the Australian and Victorian governments agreed to develop a safe and sustainable Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry – to increase regional connectivity, deliver high-speed emergency response services and create new jobs.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will see the Federal Government and Victoria work together to foster the long-term growth of an AAM industry in Australia.

Under the MoU parties have agreed to create a cohesive regulatory environment to encourage investment. This includes establishing a Regulators’ Forum to provide a one-stop-shop for industry enquiries, and exploring the use of government land for the demonstration and testing of new technologies.

AAM uses revolutionary new aircraft to transport both freight and passengers between places that have traditionally been underserviced by conventional aviation.

This could include automated electric air taxis to reduce traffic congestion in urban areas, better connections for regional communities and drones to carry out time-critical updates during bushfire emergencies when it’s unsafe for piloted aircraft to fly through smoke.

The MoU is between the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Airservices Australia and Invest Victoria. It builds on the Australian Government’s $35.7 million investment in National Emerging Aviation Technology policy.

The Federal Government is open to agreeing MoUs with other state and territory governments where it would support emerging aviation technologies.

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