Preparing Cities for the Future of Drones: Insights from Vasilis Rafail

Cities like Egaleo aren’t waiting for the future — they’re shaping it. From greener spaces to smarter skies, this Athens-based municipality is taking bold steps to prepare for the rise of urban air mobility (UAM). As part of the ImAFUSA project, Vasilis Rafail explains how drone innovation is becoming a key part of the city’s broader mission to improve quality of life and modernise local services.

As Grant Writer and Project Manager for the Municipality of Egaleo (Aigaleo), Vasilis plays a central role in developing the city’s UAM pilot. For him, embracing innovation isn’t just about keeping up with technology — it’s about creating a better everyday life for citizens. In this interview, he highlights that:

“The purpose of a city is to offer the best quality of life for its citizens, and hence, we are trying to do that by implementing projects like this one.”

While drones may still seem futuristic to some, Vasilis believes their everyday use in municipal or commercial services is just around the corner. That’s why Egaleo is taking action now — to create smart policies and sustainable solutions, including strategies to mitigate drone noise.

“We’ll try to be ahead with our plans so we can develop policies and measures in order to make the drone use sustainable.”

But Egaleo’s vision doesn’t stop at drones. The city is actively involved in multiple European initiatives focused on green, digital, and socially driven innovation, from revitalising public spaces to strengthening ICT infrastructure.

“We’re always on the lookout for energetic and passionate partners to help make our social services more impactful and sustainable”

Egaleo isn’t just a pilot site — it’s a proactive partner working to co-create meaningful, citizen-centred solutions.

Follow ImAFUSA to stay updated on how forward-thinking cities like Egaleo are preparing for the future of Urban Air Mobility:

LinkedIn , X , BlueSky , Youtube

Connect with Vasilis Rafail and the the Municipality of Egaleo (Aigaleo) to learn more about the city’s UAM pilot.