Dubai’s RTA, DANS sign MoU for autonomous air vehicle project

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to exchange expertise with government and semi-government entities that share common objectives.

The MoU will also enable added cooperation relating to studying laws relating to autonomous air vehicles.

“The MoU aims to step up cooperation in studying laws relating to autonomous air vehicles, participate in specialist workshops held by either party and coordinate efforts in R&D and innovations in relevant fields. The MoU also calls for charting out air corridors for air vehicles and stepping up the safety and security of aerial transport within the geographical perimeters of Dubai through using advanced technologies,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency and head of the autonomous air vehicle project team, RTA.

“The two parties pledged to facilitate the procedures and share information about specialist and advanced firms, test programmes, and the specifications of take-off and landing sites for autonomous air vehicles among others. The signing of the MoU is part of our efforts to support the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy aimed at transforming 25% of total mobility trips in Dubai into autonomous trips by 2030. It also fits with our aim to enhance the integration of mass transit means and add happiness to people through the deployment of smooth, fast and innovate transit means,” added Bahrozyan.

“Through sighing this MoU with RTA, a leading regional and global entity in this regard, DANS will harness its resources and expertise to serve Dubai’s future strategy in the field of smart air transport,” said Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO at Dubai Air Navigation Services.

Last year, RTA signed an MoU with skyTran, a suspended transport systems developer, as part of its efforts to introduce driverless mobility in Dubai.

Read: Dubai’s RTA signs agreement with SkyTran for ‘suspended’ transport systems