At Aerial Cities 2024, this panel offered a clear-eyed view of where the eVTOL and AAM industries truly stand.
Key takeaways from the session:
➡️ Passenger trust is the real design challenge. From “a product my mother wants to fly in” (CRISALION) to full-scale test demonstrators (Supernal), the focus is shifting from prototypes to public-ready aircraft.
➡️ Regulation is moving fast — but not evenly. The UK, EU, and US are aligning slowly, while China is already certifying autonomous vehicles. That divergence could reshape the global market.
➡️ Airspace strategies vary dramatically. The UK is going fully integrated, while Spain is testing U-space corridors. Harmonisation is still a work in progress.
➡️ Coexistence, not disruption, will define the 2030s. Future skies will blend eVTOLs, drones, and traditional aviation — and success will depend on collaboration, not competition.
Moderated by Darryl Abelscroft (Future of Flight, UK CAA ), this panel featured expert insights from David Stepanek, FRAeS (Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, Bristow Group), Mark Watson (Head of UTM Service Integration, NATS), Manuel Heredia Ortiz (Former CEO, CRISALION), Diana Marina Cooper (Chief Partnerships & Policy Officer, Supernal), and Daniel García-Monteavaro (Head of Drone Business Development Department, ENAIRE) — in one of the most grounded, real-world conversations of the event.
Read the full session recap to get a real-world lens on how — and when — eVTOLs might lift off at scale.
Eszter is the CEO and founder of Manageld and a href="https://dronetalks.online/">DroneTalks.online and is a well-known drone influencer.
An expert in technical innovation in the drone sector, Eszter has contributed to the growth of several companies, leading complex implementations and mentoring and advising leaders on strategic planning and operational transformation. In 2020 Eszter successfully lead the Global UTM association with 40 + UTM ecosystem leaders through it's restructuring for 6 months.
From 2016 - 2019, Eszter successfully lead the GSMA Drone Interest Group, growing it from 10 mobile operator members to nearly 40 finding solutions to leverage cellular connectivity in the aviation environment. Following 10+ years of professional background, complemented by certificates in Agile coaching, Prince2 and a broad professional network, launching her own businesses seemed inevitable.
Eszter holds a BA in Military & Safety Engineering from the Hungarian National University of Public Services and is currently attending Boston University’s digital leadership studies. She was born in Hungary and, having travelled extensively, now resides in Bern, Switzerland. Eszter is an expert writer in multiple drone focused online magazines such as Commercial UAV news.
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