Institutional and spatial constraints on locating VoloPorts in Greek metropolitan areas

Abstract. Recent technological developments in aviation, such as vertical take-off and landing and electric engines, are bringing the development of integrated urban air transport systems closer and are generally helping to promote the concept of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). UAM makes it possible to provide integrated air transport services for people and goods in urban areas, reducing travel time initially and leading to cost reductions in the future. The development of UAM will allow urban airspace to be used for short and medium range operations, potentially connecting larger urban areas or neighbouring cities. However, the operation of UAM requires, on the one hand, the development of appropriate urban infrastructure to provide full and vertical support for aircraft, such as vertical landing and take-off areas, specially designed intermediate areas for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and cargo, as well as areas with operational technical bases for loading, parking and maintenance of aircraft. All this is the concept of the VertiPorts/Voloports/Vertistops. However, the development of a VertiPorts/Voloports/ Vertistops in the dense and complex modern urban environment can be challenging, as on the one hand specific rules for aviation safety have to be followed, and on the other hand their integration into the urban environment requires compliance with the rules of urban planning, land use and protection of private property.
This paper presents the challenges that researchers have to face in order to integrate Voloports into an already formed and dense urban environment, such as that of the city Athens, the metropolitan centre and capital of Greece, in respect to various constitutional, institutional and spatial restrictions.