Nine Critical Success Factors for Advanced Air Mobility in Airport Planning

Aviation has come a long way since the Wright Brothers’ first powered and controlled flight in 1903.

Both World Wars pushed the pace of innovation and technological development, enabling humans to reach the moon only 66 years after the wood-and-fabric Wright Flyer took to the skies. The technological advancements of radios, radar, instrument navigation and jet propulsion ensured aviation’s place in modern transportation systems.

The development of the airplane and subsequent technological advancements have revolutionized the way we travel, connect and do business. Modern aircraft have enabled people to cross continents and oceans in a matter of hours, making the world a smaller place. 

With the advent of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), the aviation industry is once again in a highly innovative state as new technologies emerge with Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS, or drones), autonomous flight, electric propulsion, battery capacity, electric aircraft and aerial taxis.

AAM includes small UAS that can be used for package delivery, larger cargo UAS, electric fixed-wing aircraft to be used on short haul routes (up to 300 miles), and electric or hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. These new aircraft have the potential to transform the way people travel and transport goods within urban and suburban areas.

NASA believes AAM will enable the development of air transportation systems that move people and cargo in urban, regional and intraregional areas previously not served or underserved by aviation. It has the potential to revolutionize transportation options for the general public and bring new possibilities to connect communities, reduce delivery and save lives with faster emergency response.

Airports serve the communities around them in partnership with airlines providing air service. But airports face a variety of challenges. The cost of aviation fuel continues to rise. Congestion plagues larger airports while smaller ones are underutilized.

AAM provides plausible solutions to these aviation problems while also helping to address the needs of the increasingly aging population and reduce or remove food, medical and transportation deserts. While AAM aircraft and various use cases may address some of these noted issues, there is room for continued progress on how AAM aircraft can positively move the needle on environmental, safety and community development concerns.

AAM also encompasses the integration of these aircraft into existing transportation infrastructure, including airports, heliports and other landing zones. AAM doesn’t replace other modes of surface or transit transportation systems. With the development of new air traffic management systems and regulatory frameworks to ensure safe and efficient integration, it upgrades them into robust, multimodal transportation hubs.

The development of AAM requires collaboration across multiple industries, including aviation, technology, infrastructure, regulatory, and all other modes of transportation. Its success depends on these industries working together to develop the necessary technologies and infrastructure to ensure integration of AAM not only into the global airspace systems but into local transportation systems.

While AAM technologies have been maturing, airports have time to prepare and plan for the potential integration of AAM use cases at the airport.

The first step for airports is to understand their readiness level for AAM. Airports can determine their readiness by evaluating nine critical success factors:

Awareness

Airports should stay informed about the latest advancements in aviation technology by engaging with organizations like the Federal Aviation Administration, NASA, original equipment manufacturers and service providers. This proactive approach maintains competitiveness and informs planning decisions.

Readiness

Airports should assess market demand for AAM and their own capacity to support future growth, considering factors like the airport's electrical system capacity, land use and zoning of the land surrounding the airport. Identifying potential gaps and addressing them proactively will enable AAM integration.

Infrastructure

Evaluating needs for infrastructure involves discussing goals with multimodal entities, assessing land development opportunities and understanding utility capacities. Collaborating with multiple stakeholders, including utility companies, to gauge electrical infrastructure readiness can help airports create better AAM plans.

Planning

Effective planning requires an inventory of current airport operations, assets, lease agreements and land use. Airports need to diversify revenue sources, considering the shift from traditional fuel fees to new income streams like leasing agreements and user fees for AAM services. Planning also involves strengthening relationships with OEMs, AAM service providers and the community.

Performance Awareness and Application

Airports should evaluate past initiatives for integrating new services to inform AAM adoption. Establishing a system to assess benefits, costs, challenges and risks is necessary. A dedicated program can help develop these systems to maximize benefits and mitigate risks.

Organizational Capacity

Airports should consider if the facility has the systems, people and resources in place to support adoption of AAM services. Airports can evaluate if supporting departments such as information technology, human resources, procurement, properties, planning, airside/landside operations can support new initiatives. Smaller airports might need to contract AAM experts and explore funding options beyond established budgets to support necessary infrastructure and systems.

Innovation Culture

Overcoming barriers to innovation starts with recognizing them. Leadership support is critical and collaboration with legal and risk management departments can help manage new venture risks. A dedicated champion for AAM evaluation and potential adoption, capable of attracting and sustaining a new workforce, is essential for driving organizational readiness.

Policy and Regulatory Management

For an airport, incorporating AAM should not constitute a heavy policy lift. However, airport policies and regulations should be carefully researched to ensure no policy unintentionally restricts operational use of autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft or electric recharging aircraft.

Additionally, airport policies should align with those of the local municipalities and local jurisdictions. Conflicts in adjacent market policy can place gaps between demand for eVTOL operations and the ability to supply those services.

External Collaboration

Successful AAM integration requires collaboration with external partners and stakeholders, including local, state and federal organizations; adjacent communities; interest groups; and aircraft manufacturers. Regular, meaningful engagement with these stakeholders will facilitate infrastructure planning and operational readiness for AAM services.

It is an exciting and innovative period within the air transportation industry. The emerging technologies within AAM hold great promise to better the world in many ways.

AAM can potentially improve passenger and cargo services for currently underserved communities and increase emergency response capabilities. AAM can support industry goals related to providing clean and sustainable air transportation. However, anticipated challenges include stakeholder and community concerns, identifying funding sources and facilitating true collaboration to bridge silos.

Key to the AAM ecosystem are airports, which will serve as the initial and long-term infrastructure needed to support AAM operations. By evaluating the AAM success factors, airports can strategically plan for AAM integration and ensure they are prepared to support this evolving technology while maintaining operational efficiency and competitiveness.

For the full, detailed article of “Lessons Learned While Planning for Advanced Air Mobility,” see Volume 18, Issue 2 of the Journal of Airport Management.

Check it out! Paul Wheeler recently participated in a podcast with the Engineering Management Institute on the topic of “How to Integrate Drones in Advanced Engineering.” Listen to the full interview here: