Review: Aviation Forum Austria 2024

As a BMK-funded innovation laboratory, we presented the progress made by AIRlabs and gave an insight into ‘AIRlabs 2.0’ – the next development phase for innovative unmanned aviation technology and research. ‘We were delighted to be able to present AIRlabs and two of our projects, SORA4UAM* in cooperation with the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences and LAUDENT**, at such a prominent location,’ says Tom Bruchmann, technical employee at AIRlabs Austria, ’and to show the achievements of the innovation lab and our expertise through discussions and video material.’ Katja Rinck, research assistant at AIRlabs Austria, also reported that she and Gernot Paulus from the Carinthia University of Applied Sciences were delighted with the high level of participation in the survey for SORA4UAM. ‘The many exciting questions we received made for a very enriching exchange of ideas.’
In addition to the numerous networking opportunities, there was a lively exchange of ideas on future concepts in aviation. Dr Holger Friehmelt, Head of the Institute of Aviation at FH JOANNEUM and Technical and Scientific Director of AIRlabs Austria, believes that AIRlabs is on the right track: ‘AIRlabs is slowly taking flight – for example, our airspace restriction areas, which we can also offer on a long-term basis, are increasingly being used by international companies to drive innovation.’
Due to thematic overlaps with sustainable technologies, AI-supported innovations and the aviation of the future, our focal points met with a great response and paved the way for future cooperation opportunities.