V3.1- Dec. 2021, Updated UIC2 logos & List of Supporters

Manifesto on the Multilevel Governance of the Urban Sky
by the UAM Initiative Cities Community – UIC2Amsterdam, 01 December 2020

In specific, the UIC2 members request that:

The UAM Initiative Cities Community (UIC2) ofthe EU’s Smart Cities Marketplace -formerly
known as EIP-SCC Urban Air Mobility (UAM)
Initiative- is thankful to the European
Commission for supporting it through its smart
cities marketplace platform since October
2017.

1.

The members of the UIC2 recognise theimportance for harmonised and universal USpace regulation at EU level. We acknowledge
the need for approval of urban flight
operations at national level, in alignment with
U-Space regulation. Moreover, we recognise
the need for national and regional competentcivil aviation authorities to lead the legal
implementation and approval of urban flight
operations in accordance with the principles ofsubsidiarity and proportionality.
The members of the UIC2 also recognise andrequest that the role of the cities and regions
as one of the competent authorities in thegovernance of the urban airspace, is explicitly
acknowledged and referenced in theprospective U-Space legislative clauses ofMember States. This is an imperative in thecontext of multilevel governance of U-Space
andresponsive
decentralised
policyimplementation.

2.

3.

4.
5.

Cities/Regions have a deciding role forallowing the operation of UAM services ofpublic interest (e.g. future public
transport, postal-deliveries, emergencyservices) in alignment with the needs andpreferences of their citizens.
Cities/Regions have a deciding role inestablishing to what extent UAM/U-Space
operations can be conducted in theirterritories.
Cities/Regions have a deciding role where
UAM/U-Space flight operations are
permitted within their territories (e.g.
geo-fencing,day/night-time
restrictions,noiseandvisualabatements).
Cities/Regions have a deciding role wheretake-off and landing sites are to be built.
Prosecution of infringements of the public
use of the urban airspace over acity/regions remains a local task.

The members of the UIC2 trust that the above
requests will be treated with consideration andattention in: a) the forthcoming European USpace
Regulatory
Framework
byacknowledging the imperative for multilevelgovernance of U-Space; and b) the legislative
processes of U-Space Regulation by Member
States.

46

Norrkopping (SE), Albi (FR), Egaleo (GR), Zaragoza (SP)New members in 2021

UIC2

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V3.1- Dec 2021, Updated UIC2 logos & List of Supporters

Background
The UAM Initiative of the Smart Cities
Marketplace has enabled cities and regions tobecome UAM role models and to discuss theiropinions and concerns directly with Europeanand State Member authorities and policy
making bodies, including DG-Move, EASA,Eurocontrol and SESAR JU. For example, theGerman UIC2 members are building apartnership, since 2019, that is supported bythe BMVI (Federal Ministry of Transport andDigital Infrastructure) to focus on open
exchange and collaboration as well as
standard-setting for more future UAM citiesand regions.
The efforts and engagement of UIC2 alongsidewith the European Commission’s support haveresulted in fruitful interactions and concrete
actions towards sustainable and integrated
urban mobility, some of which are highlighted
below:The invitation to UIC2 to become memberof U-Space Network of Demonstrators inOctober 2018. This has helped us to be incontact and discuss with ANSPs (AirNavigation Service Providers), industry
actors and national authorities regularly;
The inviation to UIC2 Task Forces(representatives, including Mayors/ ViceMayors) to meet with the former
Commissioner of Transport (Violeta Bulc,DG-Move) in May 2019. This has allowed
us to share the progress of thecommunity’s work as well as the specificchallenges faced by the local authorities
in sustainably nurturing and safely
advancing the UAM ecosystem.
The invitation to UIC2 to participate in USpace regulation drafting workshops atEASA headquarters in May 2019. This
allowed UIC2 to further emphasise theimportance of the role of cities andregions in the governance of urban
airspace.
The preparation of an EIB (EuropeanInvestment
Bank)
Advisory
Hubassignment for UAM since 2019, and its
launch in February 2020 to both support
UIC2 members towards the developmentof their business models and carry out anearly market assessment of the UAM
sector.
The development of two UAM-dedicatedcalls for funding in the context ofsustainable urban mobility under theH2020 framework (2019-2020); namely,
the UAM Research and Innovation Action(RIA, MG-3.6) and the UAM Coordinationand Support Action (CSA, LG-1.12) calls.
These enabled some UIC2 members andtheir industrial and academic partners toparticipate in consortia and be awarded
respected funding for their projects
starting in Q1 2021.
The invitation and assignment to theUIC2, in December 2019, of the task todevelop the Practioners Briefing on UAM
in the context of the Sustainable Urban
Mobility Plan process (SUMP-UAM). The
ongoing city/region-led work sheds light,
based first-hand experience from theUIC2, into the challenges, opportunities,lessons
learntandinitialrecommendations to effectively integrate
UAM aspects in the SUMP processes ofcities and regions across Europe.
UIC2 highly acknowledges and appreciates theEuropeanCommission’s
supportanddedication towards this community that has
led to its recognition as the leading city/region-driven community on UAM.

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V3.1- Dec. 2021, Updated UIC2 logos & List of Supporters

Latest update on: 14th December 2021

European Cities and Regions already supporting(Trikala)(Egaleo)(Plovdiv)(Bari)

Ongoing process … more cities and regions are in the process of supporting

International (outside the EU) Cities and Regions already supporting …
Mie Prefecture (Japan)

Commonweatlh ofMassachusetts(USA)
MassDOT,
Aeronautics Division

Organisations / Associations already supporting …

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