UIC2 Workshop on Urban Air Mobility in Hamburg
UIC2
Image by PwC
On 26–27 March 2025, the Urban Air Mobility Initiative Cities Community (UIC2) convened in Hamburg for a workshop focused on Social Acceptance and Citizen Engagement for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) deployment. The two-day event brought together UIC2 member cities to exchange knowledge, share local experiences and explore the key conditions necessary for ensuring socially inclusive and publicly supported UMA initiatives.
Workshop higlights:
Drone Port Visit and Live Demonstration
The workshop opened with a visit to the Hamburg Drone Port, hosted by the Hamburg Port Authority. Participants attended a live drone flight demonstration and explored the site’s operational setup and coordination mechanisms with local authorities.
Presentation of the CITYAM Project
Representatives from the cities of Hamburg and Helsinki introduced the CITYAM project, which included insights from a citizen survey conducted across six cities. The survey results helped frame the conversation on public acceptance, use cases and other context-specific challenges of implementing UAM.
Academic Perspectives on Participatory Governance
On the second day, Svantje Kähler opened with an Academic Impulse on Participative Methods, providing a framework for shifting from passive public acceptance to active social embracement of UAM. The presentation explored psychological factors, participatory governance models, and the importance of co-creation in aligning drone services with citizen expectations.
Exchange on Citizen Engagement
A hybrid session allowed members the opportunity to share their hands-on experiences and approaches to citizen engagement, communication campaigns, and local pilots aimed at building trust and visibility around UAM initiatives.
Community Governance
The UIC2 Community appointed its new leadership:
- Chair: Robert Weist (Hamburg Aviation)
- Co-Chair: Pedro Fernandez (Madrid City Council)
The new coordination team will lead the next phase of UIC2’s work, with support from the broader network of cities. The formalisation of their roles and responsibilities will take place in the coming month.
Co-Created Document on Local Authorities' Roles
The workshop also featured a presentation of the initial results of the co-created document on the roles and responsibilities of local authorities in drone services and logistics operations. The group discussed the next steps for its finalisation, with the final version expected by May 2025.
What’s Next?
The next UIC2 workshop will take place in Helsinki on 11–12 June 2025. This joint event with POLIS, will focus on the 'Integration of diverse data sources for UAV operations within the city's digital twin'.
If your city or region is involved in UAM and would like to join the UIC2 Community, you can find more information and sign up here.
Stay connected with us as we continue shaping the future of urban air mobility across Europe!
Author: Francesco Rocchegiani
