Queensland Launches Hub for AAM Innovation

Thales and Underwood Innovation Labs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an AAM Centre of Excellence. The AAM COE, supported by the Mayor of Logan City, Hon Jon Raven, will operate as a membership-based, open-ecosystem, enabling organisations to utilize and access innovation, technology and resources. ​

The location of the AAM COE, in South East Queensland, is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with population numbers expected to reach 5.4 million by 2041. As a key economic hub, the establishment of a centre of excellence will cultivate advanced technology and develop skills for Queensland’s future workforce.

The AAM COE is modelled after a successful initiative in Paris, France, known as Centre d’Excellence Drones Ile De France (CEDIF). CEDIF operates with an approved 40km Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace corridor extending from Saint-Quentin en Yvelines to Bretigny sur Orge. Supported by Thales, Eurocontrol, and Systematic, CEDIF aims to provide a comprehensive platform for incubating, validating, and industrializing all aspects of drone activities, both direct and indirect.