The Faculty of Law at Diponegoro University once again held the Undip Global Classroom (UGC) 2026 session, featuring Dr. Benjamyn Scott from Leiden University as the keynote speaker. This session addressed the topic “High Hopes and Higher Hurdles: Unpacking Six Regulatory Challenges Facing Advanced Air Mobility,” with Dr. Adya Paramita Prabandari, S.H., M.H., M.L.I., as the discussant.
The event, held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, was part of efforts to strengthen air and space law studies, particularly in response to the rapid global development of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology. According to the official invitation, this event was designed as an academic forum for law students to understand the regulatory dynamics that accompany innovations in air transportation based on new technologies.
In his presentation, Dr. Benjamyn Scott highlighted that the development of AAM, encompassing autonomous aerial vehicles, urban air mobility, and the integration of air-based transportation systems, brings high expectations for future mobility efficiency. However, this optimism faces several complex and cross-jurisdictional regulatory challenges.
One key issue raised is the unpreparedness of the existing legal framework to accommodate new technologies that are developing faster than their regulations. Conventional aviation regulations are deemed inadequate to fully address safety, certification, legal liability, and airspace integration issues related to AAM technology.
Furthermore, harmonizing international regulations poses challenges given AAM’s inherently transnational nature. Differences in standards across countries can create legal fragmentation that hinders the global development of this industry. In this context, the roles of international organizations and of inter-country cooperation are crucial.
Another equally important aspect is the dimension of legal responsibility (liability) and public protection. The use of autonomous technology raises fundamental questions about who is responsible in the event of an accident—the operator, the manufacturer, or the system developer. This highlights the need to reconceptualize liability in aviation law.
The discussion also underscored the importance of an adaptive, risk-based regulatory approach that accommodates innovation without compromising safety or legal certainty. In this regard, academics and legal education institutions play a strategic role in bridging technological developments with the development of relevant legal norms.
Through this session, the Faculty of Law at Diponegoro University not only broadened students’ understanding of contemporary legal issues but also encouraged the strengthening of comparative and global perspectives in the study of air and space law.