The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is embarking on a significant initiative to define the future of air travel with the launch of an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Airspace and Operational Feasibility Analysis. This project, stemming from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Boeing Saudi Arabia and the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GACA), aims to meticulously chart a course from current Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to fully Automated Flight Rules (AFR) operations. Working in collaboration with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the analysis will scrutinize the operational and regulatory landscape to ensure the safe and sustainable integration of AAM within the Kingdom.
The core objective of this feasibility study is to evaluate various aspects critical for AAM implementation. This includes assessing potential AAM routes, identifying suitable cooperative airspace areas, and examining the necessary infrastructure such as Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) systems, along with vertiports and airports. The analysis will demonstrate the viability of safe and efficient AAM operations for both piloted and remotely piloted aerial vehicles, laying the groundwork for a future where Automated Flight Rules for AAM are standard.
The initiative is designed to address operations across different flight rule categories, starting with VFR and IFR, and progressively advancing towards a framework for fully autonomous flight under AFR. This approach is modeled on Boeing’s established Concept of Operations for Automated Flight Rules, focusing on medium-density, medium-complexity operations that utilize collaborative and responsible automated systems. The ambition is to create a scalable and future-ready AAM ecosystem.
Captain Sulaiman Almuhaimedi, Executive Vice President of Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability at GACA, highlighted the importance of this step. He stated that the activation of the MoU and the launch of this analysis represent a crucial advancement toward enabling a safe, scalable, and future-ready Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. He further emphasized GACA’s dedication to fostering innovation while upholding the highest safety and operational standards. The collaboration with Boeing Saudi Arabia, SkyGrid, and KAUST is seen as instrumental in advancing the GACA AAM Roadmap by developing practical regulatory and operational frameworks that will shape the future of air mobility and align with the National Strategy of Transportation and Logistics Services (NTLS).
A key component of the analysis involves a comprehensive Gap Analysis. This process will identify the essential air, ground, and air traffic management technologies and infrastructure enablers required to support Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and autonomous aircraft operations. The findings from this gap analysis will culminate in the creation of an Infrastructure and Technology Roadmap, designed to facilitate the scaling of operations from VFR and IFR to AFR across the Kingdom. Furthermore, the study will define the roles and responsibilities of various AAM operational stakeholders and propose necessary regulatory adjustments to ensure seamless integration of AAM systems into existing air traffic management frameworks.
Asaad Aljomoai, President of Boeing Saudi Arabia, said, “Through collaboration with GACA, SkyGrid, and KAUST, we aim to support the implementation of the GACA AAM Roadmap by developing actionable technology, operational, and regulatory recommendations that will help enable safe, scalable, and next-generation AAM operations across the Kingdom.”
The feasibility analysis will significantly benefit from SkyGrid’s specialized expertise in digital operations and AAM traffic management. This includes leveraging their advanced capabilities in traffic surveillance, micro-weather intelligence, vertiport resource management, and GNSS spoofing detection technologies. These tools are vital for ensuring reliable situational awareness, resilient positioning, and intelligent airspace and aerodrome management, which are fundamental to safe autonomous aircraft operations.
Jia Xu, CEO of SkyGrid, said, “This feasibility analysis will help define how advanced automation and cooperative traffic management can enable safe, scalable AAM operations across increasingly complex airspace environments creating a pathway from today’s Visual and Instrument Flight Rules toward fully Automated Flight Rules in the future.”
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), having previously signed an MoU with SkyGrid to advance AAM technologies and operations in Saudi Arabia, will contribute its extensive research and technical expertise. KAUST’s involvement is crucial for providing the scientific foundations that will underpin the analysis.
“Together with Boeing Saudi Arabia, SkyGrid, and GACA, we will help validate the operational concepts and technical infrastructure needed to ensure the Kingdom’s AAM ecosystem meets the highest standards of safety and efficiency,” said Dr. Ian Campbell, Senior Vice President of the National Transformation Institute at KAUST.
The comprehensive output of this project will include a baseline assessment and a key gap analysis. This will provide invaluable input for the effective implementation and advancement of the GACA AAM Roadmap, ultimately enabling safe, scalable, and efficient Advanced Air Mobility operations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
