Advanced Air Mobility State-of-Practice Review

Overview

An independent study report synthesizing the current state of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The review covers aircraft typologies, certification frameworks, vertiport infrastructure, FAA and NASA initiatives, market readiness, and governance challenges, with the goal of assessing how AAM may evolve from demonstration flights toward scalable urban and regional mobility services.

Tools Used

State-of-Practice Literature Review · FAA & EASA Regulatory Synthesis · NASA AAM National Campaign Review · Vertiport Design Standards Review · Aircraft-Typology Comparison · Market & Governance Analysis

My Role

Authored the independent study end-to-end: scoping the review, synthesizing regulatory and technical sources, comparing aircraft typologies, mapping vertiport and infrastructure considerations, and developing the deployment-pathway analysis.

Method

The report synthesized published technical, regulatory, and program documentation across the AAM ecosystem. Aircraft were grouped into eVTOL, eSTOL, lift-plus-cruise, and hybrid fly-drive typologies, and compared on payload, range, takeoff/landing requirements, and infrastructure implications. Certification was reviewed across FAA and EASA frameworks, including the FAA's Innovate28 effort and NASA's AAM National Campaign. Vertiport considerations covered siting, charging, fire/life-safety, and airspace integration. Market readiness and governance were examined together — bringing capital, operations, and regulation into a single deployment view.

Key Outcomes

• Mapped AAM aircraft typologies — eVTOL, eSTOL, lift-plus-cruise, and hybrid fly-drive — against payload, range, and infrastructure profiles.
• Synthesized FAA and EASA certification pathways and the FAA Innovate28 plan into a single regulatory view.
• Reviewed NASA's AAM National Campaign as the bridge between demonstration flights and operational service.
• Pulled vertiport siting, charging, and airspace integration into a coherent infrastructure picture.
• Identified governance gaps and market-readiness constraints that bound near-term deployment pathways toward urban air taxi and regional mobility services.

Limitations

The report is a state-of-practice synthesis rather than original simulation or field study. Many AAM developments are moving quickly, so specific certification statuses, vertiport standards, and market positions reflect the review window and may shift. Cost estimates and deployment timelines from industry sources vary widely and were treated as ranges rather than predictions.