As advanced air mobility (AAM) nears market entry in the next several years, many industry leaders agree that much work lies ahead on building out the infrastructure and tackling key issues such as autonomy, safety, and security. But these leaders, speaking during a webinar hosted by HAI last week, agreed that the existing infrastructure in place can provide a starting point for such operations.
“There is a lot that needs to be done,” said former FAA administrator Michael Huerta, who is now a transportation industry consultant. “We are establishing a whole new way to think of air transportation… And that raises questions of where you put infrastructure.”
Policymakers and the aviation community must work together to “understand what the requirements are, what the needs are, and how do we build the physical infrastructure, the human infrastructure, the aircraft infrastructure,” added NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. Gary Gysin, president and CEO of eVTOL aircraft developer Wisk Aero, said that while AAM industry executives tend to highlight new infrastructure, “We have the infrastructure now, general aviation airports, international airports…and helipads.”
HAI president and CEO James Viola agreed and said pilots can play a key role in understanding the performance requirements of their vehicles and which facility is most suitable. “We can take some of that responsibility off the FAA.”
Want more? You can find a longer version of this article at FutureFlight.aero, a news and information resource developed by AIN to provide objective coverage and analysis of cutting-edge aviation technology.
