'5+1' with Balkiz Sarihan – CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus

In our latest edition of our interview series ‘5+1’ get to know Balkiz Sarihan, CEO & Head of UAM (Urban Air Mobility) at Airbus. As a pioneering force in the fast-evolving UAM sector, Airbus leads the way with innovative solutions that are set to revolutionise transportation. At the helm of this transformative journey is Balkiz Sarihan, the visionary CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the mind of this industry trailblazer, exploring her role, the innovative business models Airbus is shaping, her strategic vision for the future of urban air mobility and the proactive steps taken by Airbus to promote gender equality and diversity.

1. You are CEO & Head of UAM at Airbus. What does your job involve and what is it that drives you?

I am CEO of Airbus Urban Mobility GmbH, which is our startup-like entity based in Munich. We’re really lucky at Airbus because we get to have the best of both worlds – the agility of a startup while benefiting from the expertise across all of the Airbus divisions. First and foremost, my work involves providing a vision and our strategy for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at Airbus for the team, the direction, in which we want to work towards together. I also spend a lot of time meeting with the partners and operators with whom we will co-create the AAM ecosystem with. I find this extremely rewarding personally, as with many things in life, it takes a village. 

2. Urban Air Mobility introduces a new dimension to transportation business models. Can you discuss the innovative business models Airbus is exploring in the UAM sector?

We at Airbus understand that for Advanced Air Mobility to be successful, to really take off, it cannot just be about the vehicle. This is a brand new and additional layer of mobility that is being introduced. The vehicles need to land somewhere, the batteries need to be recharged, they need to be integrated safely into the lower airspace, and they need to be maintained. We have forged partnerships with helicopter operators and airlines all over the world to look at conops as we will not be the ones to operate CityAirbus NextGen. We have launched a unique initiative in Bavaria to set up the world’s first fully functioning ecosystem – it’s called the Air Mobility Initiative or AMI for short. We work with around 40 partners from the Deutsche Bahn and the International Airport in Munich to startups as well as leading research institutes and universities to define and test a minimum viable product. We look to replicate this model in other countries – it’s really exciting. 

3. In your role as the CEO and Head of UAM at Airbus, how do you envision the future of urban air mobility, and what strategic initiatives are you implementing to position Airbus as a leader in this rapidly developing industry?

I think it’s important to remember that AAM is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes years to certify aircraft and for reason – they need to be safe. The regulations are still being defined as we speak. We as Airbus need to be ready with the right product that lives up to all of the highest standards of safety and quality that, as aerospace incumbent, we set ourselves. 

We also need to work on getting public acceptance - people need to see AAM as something that will bring added value to their lives and their communities – not a gimmick for a chosen few. Therefore, our mission is “to connect communities” as the overall objective and value proposition. This is why we have decided to focus our energy on exploring how AAM could complement the use of helicopters for medical services. Being an all electric vehicle, CityAirbus NextGen will generate lower sound levels than a helicopter, which means it could fly in urban areas where helicopters, especially single-engine helicopters, face restrictions. 

4. Considering the predominantly male-dominated mobility industry, what measures is Airbus taking to promote gender equality and diversity?

Inclusion and diversity is important to Airbus and for Airbus Urban Mobility especially – the magic of innovation and creativity really thrives when people with different mindsets, cultures, education, backgrounds, ages and genders work together. Today we have around 20% of our workforce who are women and we have many initiatives to encourage more women to join our industry that can really offer meaningful career paths. In France, for example, we partner with associations like Elles Bougent to show middle school and high school students the different kinds of technical and engineering roles women already hold at Airbus.

5. What has your experience been like building a career as a woman in the mobility industry, particularly in aviation/aerospace?

I fell into aerospace very early on in my career and I’ve never looked back. There really is nowhere else I would rather be. I moved from Canada to France thanks to the wonderful opportunities this industry has to give. It’s true that there aren’t that many women at the forefront of the AAM industry, but that’s just another thing that sets Airbus apart from the rest. 

And the +1 question from Balkiz to you:

“Where do you think advanced air mobility will bring value?”

Please provide your answers in the comment section below.
Thank you, Balkiz, for the insightful and inspiring interview. We sincerely appreciate your valuable input.

To gain further valuable insights from inspiring women in the industry, we encourage you to explore the ‘elle’ section of our magazine.

Pictures: Airbus