AAMAdvanced Air Mobilityb.r.m.Drone DaysU-SpaceU-Space Service ProviderUTM

A Look Back at AERO 2026 in Friedrichshafen

AERO 2026 is now behind us, and we look back on an intense few days in Friedrichshafen.

The focus was on the presentation of the new Advanced Air Mobility Initiative for Northern Germany and the German Bight, along with the updated map. For the first time, we presented our concrete proposal for an initial U-Space and a VTOL route along the Weser River —from Bremen via Bremerhaven to Heligoland. In initial discussions with the aviation authorities in Lower Saxony and Bremen, we were able to discuss the basic feasibility of the project.

In addition, we have engaged in dialogue with key institutions and ministries: the Federal Supervisory Authority for Air Navigation Services (BAF), the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV), the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Aviation Authority (LBA), and various state aviation authorities. Of particular note is our collaboration with the IDRF, the Association of Regional Airports, which advocates for the role of regional airports as future infrastructure hubs for new forms of mobility.

Two themes emerged as recurring themes at AERO: the relevance of existing aviation infrastructure and manned aviation to the development of the drone economy, and the belief that digital visibility in airspace enhances safety for all airspace users.

AERO has once again demonstrated how closely manned and unmanned aviation are converging. We look forward to the next steps.

We would like to thank everyone involved and the organizers of the Bremen joint booth “BREMEN/BREMERHAVEN – CITY OF AEROSPACE.”