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SkyGrid's Call for Enhanced Risk Assessments in Advanced Air Mobility

SkyGrid, a key player in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), has launched a crucial white paper titled "Operational Risk Assessment for Advanced Air Mobility Third-Party Service Providers (TSPs)." This document represents a significant step in addressing the evolving safety challenges posed by integrating TSPs into the AAM ecosystem.

The Importance of TSPs in AAM

As the landscape of aviation technology evolves, TSPs are positioned to play an essential role in enhancing automated flight operations. They are tasked with providing critical services that include real-time weather analytics, traffic management, and flight operations support. However, the existing frameworks for aviation safety have yet to comprehensively accommodate the complexities introduced by these distributed services. This white paper identifies and elucidates the safety gaps that could impede the successful integration of TSPs into AAM.

Bridging the Safety Gap

SkyGrid’s analysis indicates that traditional aviation safety assessment frameworks, such as the SAE ARP4761, were originally designed for more straightforward aircraft operating environments. As stated by Bryce Norton, SkyGrid's Systems Safety Manager, "TSPs introduce new, dynamic risks that require a broader, system-of-systems approach to safety." The proposed Operational Risk Assessment (ORA) aims to provide a more encompassing method to evaluate the safety and reliability of TSPs, bridging the limitations of existing frameworks.

A Holistic Approach to Safety

The white paper critically reviews current aviation safety methodologies and suggests integrating elements from established frameworks, such as System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), Safety-Critical Functional Thread Analysis (SCFTA), and Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA). This synthesis aims to formulate a more robust process to measure operational risks effectively.

SkyGrid emphasizes that collaboration among multiple stakeholders—regulators, industry leaders, and technology providers—is required to establish a universally accepted ORA framework.

A Call to Action for the Industry

SkyGrid's publication is not merely an academic exercise; it serves as a clarion call for collaboration among all players in the aviation sector. Christian Folgore, Director of Engineering at SkyGrid, asserts the necessity of a unique approach to safeguard autonomous aviation operations, beyond the methodologies used for conventional aircraft systems.

"A comprehensive process is required to account for the hazards and complexities of systems that support multiple aircraft within shared airspace," says Folgore. This perspective is central to ensuring that TSPs maintain the highest safety standards as air mobility technology progresses.

Future Implications for AAM

With an increasing reliance on cloud-based and autonomous systems in AAM operations, it is imperative to develop robust safety assessment methodologies. SkyGrid’s white paper aims to facilitate the establishment of clear and scalable safety standards for TSPs, thereby reinforcing trust and reliability in the air mobility sector.

Conclusion

SkyGrid's white paper underlines the critical need for an operational risk assessment framework tailored to the unique challenges of TSPs within the AAM ecosystem. By galvanizing industry stakeholders to collaborate in defining safety standards, SkyGrid is taking a proactive approach towards ensuring a secure future for autonomous flight operations. For those interested in a deeper dive into these concepts and methodologies, the full version of the white paper can be downloaded through SkyGrid's official channels.