Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM)

This document presents a comprehensive Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Japan. It outlines AAM's ecosystem, including aircraft, infrastructure, air traffic management, and phased introduction. Key challenges, stakeholder roles, operations, and use cases are detailed to guide the safe, sustainable integration of AAM.

The "Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM)" is a foundational white paper prepared by Japan’s Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility.

It aims to facilitate the development and gradual deployment of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within Japan. AAM, powered primarily by electrically driven vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, promises safe, flexible, and low-emission urban and regional air transportation.

This document defines the scope, covering aircraft types, vertiport infrastructure, airspace management including Urban Air Traffic Management (UATM), and integration with existing aviation frameworks. It describes phases of AAM implementation from initial test flights (Phase 0) through commercial low-density piloted operations (Phase 1), to high-density autonomous operations (Phase 3). Social acceptance, safety and security, noise and privacy concerns, as well as environmental sustainability, are acknowledged as critical challenges alongside technical certification, pilot training, maintenance, and air traffic management adaptations. Use cases include intra-urban transport, regional connectivity, emergency medical transport, tourism, and cargo delivery, reflecting the broad societal benefits AAM aims to provide.

The paper emphasizes harmonization with international standards and collaboration among aircraft makers, operators, vertiport managers, regulators, and service providers to ensure safety, efficiency, and scalability.