Communities and States Prepare for AAM Operations
Several cities and states vie to be the most prepared for AAM operations, launching initiatives focused on ensuring smooth transitions. Tampa, Los Angeles, and the state of Ohio are among those with dedicated AAM projects.
This summer, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) started the Advanced Aviation Technology Committee to look at the use of electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations in the Tampa Bay area. The HCAA is responsible for overseeing Tampa International Airport and three general aviation airports.
“This is something that is coming. It’s not just a pie-in-the-sky idea. This is happening. It’s real,” Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Director of General Aviation Brett Fay said. “This industry is moving very quickly, so it’s either going to happen all around you, or you’re going to be a part of that discussion and have a seat at the table, and we want to make sure we are part of that conversation and that planning process.”
Meanwhile, Ohio published the nation’s first state-wide AAM framework, summarizing opportunities and examining solutions to challenges to position Ohio as a leader in AAM adoption. The framework discusses the AAM ecosystem, potential market, route planning considerations, and recommendations for future vertiports.
Upon the framework’s publication earlier this year, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said, “Ohio is a leader in the aviation industry; talented Ohioans brought flight to the world and sent mankind forward in space. My administration is focused on the 21st-century economy, and advanced air mobility is an important industry for Ohio’s growth.”
The state also held the National Advanced Air Mobility Forum, which brought together manufacturers and suppliers from across the AAM industry, in August, and is building the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Springfield, Ohio.
Los Angeles, long considered a possible initial AAM launch market, published its own framework in 2021. The framework notes that Urban Air Mobility, one form of AAM, has existed for decades using helicopters but has been limited due to the expense and noise associated with rotorcraft operations. However, AAM, utilizing quieter electric aircraft and lower price points, “has the potential to facilitate movement across the LA area in minutes,” according to the framework’s authors.
In 2020, the city also created the Urban Air Mobility Partnership, a public-private collaboration between the mayor’s office, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and Urban Movement Labs, a public entity created to test new mobility ideas.
These are just a few examples of how communities and regions are preparing for AAM operations. These efforts demonstrate the need for community engagement and policy discussions today to support AAM operations in the future.