Professional Training Focuses on Sustainable Aviation and Advanced Air Mobility
Khalifa University’s Future Aviation Leadership Center and Outreach Network (FALCON) held its inaugural lecture series on Sustainable Aviation and Advanced Air Mobility in collaboration with Archer Aviation, a global leader in electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft and next-generation air mobility ecosystems.
The sessions were held at the University’s Main Campus and attended by more than 100 students, researchers, and faculty. The first two lectures of the FALCON Lecture Series were delivered by Archer Aviation, with additional sessions planned in collaboration with national and international industry partners.
The newly launched lecture series supports FALCON’s engagement and knowledge-transfer objectives by exposing students, researchers, and faculty to real-world industrial developments and operational challenges shaping the future of aviation.
The inaugural seminar sessions addressed two key pillars of future air mobility operations. The first lecture, delivered by Jacob Haan, Head of International Infrastructure at Archer Aviation, focused on the development of vertiport infrastructure and the electrification strategies required to support large-scale deployment of eVTOL operations. The second lecture, delivered by Lambros Stasi, Head of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) for the UAE at Archer Aviation, explored certification pathways, maintenance frameworks, and continued airworthiness challenges associated with emerging eVTOL aircraft systems.
Professor Roberto Sabatini, Director of the FALCON program at Khalifa University, said: “The launch of the FALCON Lecture Series marks an important step in strengthening the program’s industrial engagement and professional training components. Through collaborations with global aerospace and aviation leaders such as Archer Aviation, FALCON continues to focus on real-world aerospace challenges and emerging aviation technologies while supporting workforce development in critical sectors such as trusted autonomy and advanced air mobility.”
The FALCON program at Khalifa University is a transdisciplinary innovation initiative focused on industry-driven research and professional training in sustainable aviation, AAM, and trusted autonomous aerospace systems. The program’s prototypes have achieved advancements in key areas such as eVTOL power and propulsion, intelligent navigation and guidance, and autonomous flight systems.
Alisha Roy
Science Writer
