sVTOL and eVTOL technologies in Romania: Assessing awareness, concerns, and adoption potential in smart urban mobility

The advancement of smart urban mobility solutions such as Short Vertical Take-Off and Landing (sVTOL) and Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) technologies presents transformative opportunities for modern cities, as the concentration of the world’s population continues to shift from rural areas to urban centers. However, the acceptance and openness of the general public toward these innovations are crucial for their successful implementation. As the European Union places a significant focus on smart cities and on urban air mobility, this paper investigates the perception and level of knowledge of Romanian citizens' of sVTOL and eVTOL technologies. Using a questionnaire-based survey, this study assesses the level of awareness, perceived benefits, and concerns associated with smart urban mobility technologies in Romania. The primary objective is to evaluate not only the level of knowledge on fundamental aspects of air mobility and emerging technologies but also to gauge the potential interest in adopting such technologies. The research was conducted online across Romania to capture diverse perspectives.The findings of this study reveal a general reluctance towards emerging air mobility technologies, primarily due to concerns about safety, the challenges of implementing such innovations in Romania, and their perceived limited impact. Additionally, sVTOL and eVTOL technologies are often viewed as more appropriate for search and rescue operations in hard-to-reach areas, rather than for widespread urban use. This study is part of broader research on the feasibility of sVTOL and eVTOL as viable components of Romania’s future urban air mobility ecosystem, it provides valuable insights into the public's readiness to embrace these innovations and highlights areas where public perception may need to be addressed to foster adoption.