Advanced Air Mobility:
What to Know Before Implementing

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has generated a lot of buzz in recent years. We have heard about it at conferences, seen it in videos, and read about it in publications. Now, as the industry transitions from research and development to adoption and implementation, we are beginning to witness the realization of the anticipated benefits of AAM—from commercial last-mile package delivery in multiple markets to significant milestones in eVTOL aircraft certification. Excitement continues to grow for the possibility of AAM transforming transportation, tourism, healthcare, and more. For those looking to leverage AAM within their community, at an airport, or as part of a development, there are several key factors to consider.

Goal Setting: The first step in evaluating AAM is defining your “why.” What goals do you hope to achieve by incorporating an eVTOL vertiport or UAS infrastructure at your facility? How will it benefit your airport, community, or business? Furthermore, will the investments be supported by your primary stakeholders and decision makers? Setting clear goals in partnership with stakeholders will guide decision making and ensure that AAM investments align with your ultimate vision.

Unique Needs: Each AAM use case presents unique advantages, challenges, and steps for implementation. For example, if your goal is to enable eVTOL cargo transportation, payload capacity and vertiport location considerations will differ from those for passenger transportation for aeromedical services or tourism. Additionally, eVTOL aircraft needs will vary greatly from UAS infrastructure—from energy capacity requirements and beyond visual line of site capabilities to environmental clearance, airspace integration, and regulatory approval.

Zoning and Land Use: Zoning and land use compatibility are critical for AAM implementation. If you are interested in incorporating vertiport development in your community, a zoning framework to support vertiport development and eVTOL operations in essential. This requires early engagement and close collaboration with local and regional governments to establish a regulatory environment that facilitates AAM adoption.

Flexibility and Adaptation: The AAM industry is rapidly evolving, and it is essential to adopt a flexible and adaptable approach to plan for the unknown. For all use cases, it is crucial to incorporate emergency response considerations from the beginning, including firefighting equipment, response procedures, and personnel training. Additionally, AAM planning and design should allow for modifications and re-tooling to support new technologies, evolving regulations, facility expansion to meet future demand, and interoperability among different aircraft types. For example, it may be advantageous to design an on-airport vertiport to accommodate both eVTOL aircraft and traditional helicopters. Similarly, utility upgrades to support UAS charging systems can also benefit other electrification needs in a community.

The potential benefits of AAM are exciting. As the industry transitions into early stages of operations, we can begin to understand the “real-life” infrastructure needs and overall implications of AAM operations. To successfully navigate this environment, it is important to develop an AAM strategy that is rooted in flexibility, adaptation, and stakeholder engagement to collectively work towards achieving your mobility goals.