Urban Air Mobility (UAM) in Türkiye: Evaluating Existing Aviation Laws and International Practices

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 1385 - 1419, 23.12.2024

Ayşenur Zeynep Özmen

https://doi.org/10.52273/sduhfd..1560332

Abstract

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) has emerged as a solution to transport challenges such as traffic congestion, environmental impacts, and lack of adequate public transport systems in urban areas. As the interest in UAM objects such as electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) is increasing, it is important to understand whether the current regulations are sufficient to address the sui generis difficulties of this brand new technology. This article examines the adequacy of Türkiye's current legal framework to ensure the safe, effective, and sustainable integration of UAM. This article analyses Türkiye's existing aviation legislation, in particular the Turkish Civil Aviation Law and the instructions issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and examines their applicability to UAM. The article discusses various regulatory gaps such as the lack of standards specifically designed for UAM, inadequate safety, environmental and operational regulations, and unclear guidelines on airspace integration. The article also discusses various UAM regulations prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the approaches of pioneer countries in this area, such as the US, Germany, and Japan. Through a comparative analysis, it demonstrates the key lessons learnt from these international practices and presents suggestions for improving Türkiye's regulatory environment. The study emphasises the need for targeted reforms, introduction of specific standards, and a new regulative framework to foster the successful integration of UAM. The findings aim to contribute to the establishment of a solid legal framework to ensure that Türkiye is prepared for the future of UAM.

Keywords

Urban Air Mobility, Turkish Civil Aviation Law, DGCA, ICAO, EASA

Türkiye'de Kentsel Hava Hareketliliği: Mevcut Havacılık Kurallarının ve Uluslararası Uygulamaların Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Kentsel Hava Hareketliliği (Urban Air Mobility-UAM), trafik sıkışıklığı, çevresel etkiler ve kalabalık şehirlerde yeterli toplu taşıma sistemlerinin bulunmaması gibi ulaşım sorunlarına bir çözüm olarak ortaya çıkmıştır. Elektrikli dikey kalkış ve iniş yapan uçaklar (eVTOL) gibi UAM nesnelerine olan ilgi artarken, mevcut havacılık düzenlemelerinin bu yeni teknolojinin kendine has zorluklarını ele almak için yeterli olup olmadığını değerlendirmek önem taşımaktadır. Bu makale, Türkiye'nin mevcut yasal çerçevesinin UAM'nin güvenli, etkili ve sürdürülebilir entegrasyonunu desteklemek için yeterliliğini incelemektedir. Çalışma, başta Türk Sivil Havacılık Kanunu ve Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü (SHGM) tarafından yayınlanan talimatlar olmak üzere Türkiye'nin mevcut havacılık mevzuatını analiz etmekte ve bunların UAM kavramıyla olan ilişkisini değerlendirmektedir. Çalışma, UAM için özel olarak hazırlanmış standartların eksikliği, yetersiz emniyet, çevre ve operasyonel düzenlemeler ve hava sahası entegrasyonuna ilişkin net olmayan yönergeler gibi çeşitli düzenleyici boşlukları tartışmaktadır. Makale ayrıca Uluslararası Sivil Havacılık Örgütü (ICAO), Avrupa Birliği Havacılık Güvenliği Ajansı (EASA) tarafından hazırlanan çeşitli UAM standartlarını ve ABD, Almanya ve Japonya gibi öncü ülkelerin yaklaşımlarını incelemektedir. Karşılaştırmalı bir analiz yoluyla, bu uluslararası uygulamalardan çıkarılan temel dersler ele alınmakta ve Türkiye'nin düzenleyici ortamının iyileştirilmesine yönelik tavsiyeler sunulmaktadır. Çalışma, UAM'nin başarılı bir şekilde entegrasyonunu desteklemek için hedeflenen reformlara, belirli standartların getirilmesine ve yeni düzenlemelere duyulan ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır. Bulgular, Türkiye'nin kentsel hava hareketliliğinin geleceğine hazırlıklı olmasını sağlamak için sağlam bir yasal çerçevenin oluşturulmasına katkıda bulunmayı amaçlamaktadır.

Keywords

Kentsel Hava Hareketliliği, Türk Sivil Havacılık Kanunu, SHGM, ICAO, EASA

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