With proper management of airspace, advanced remotely piloted, highly automated and autonomous aircraft technologies will enable concepts for new and enhanced modes of transportation that will give rise to a new era of airborne mobility solutions. The AAM market is expected to grow to 1 trillion by 2030 globally creating a true 3-dimensional transportation network. The need to study how this will impact, integrate and enhance our 3D transportation infrastructure is an important goal for Departments of Transportation and to prepare for this future of transportation. This research is specifically designed to study the takeoff and landing locations and their interactions with other (existing and future) modes of transportation for AAM aircraft technologies and the current and future infrastructure to support future AAM operations. Noting that first Departments of Transportation (DOT’s) are tasked with the movement of people and goods; DOT’s have aviation responsibilities within their respective political boundaries; DOT’s have existing rights of ways and infrastructure that could be utilized for supporting AAM. Also realizing AAM will, for regional transportation, generally follow highway and interstate infrastructure connecting urban centers may present some innovative opportunities to leverage existing investments for new and enhanced modes of transportation adding more mobility options and resilience to our existing systems through AAM.

Assessment of existing transportation infrastructure including the use of Right of Way (R/W), communication, aviation transportation facilities and any other potential existing state investments. Assessment of potential infrastructure that could utilize existing right of way and aviation transportation facilities to support AAM. Demonstrations of AAM operations for notional use cases for the movement of people and goods. Provide strategic roadmaps for research and development for each participating DOT. 

Phase 1 – Assessment of existing and potential transportation infrastructure. Assess existing infrastructure like R/W, communications infrastructure, weather infrastructure and the potential use of rest areas as possible multimodal hubs or emergency/alternative landing sights. Future infrastructure focused on potential takeoff and landing locations, detect and avoidance, aircraft communications, weather sensors and remote ATC tower (R-TWR)/ R-TWR like infrastructure.

Phase 2 – Focused demonstrations with AAM OEM’s around potential use cases to better inform research on AAM needs a potential DOT opportunity.

Phase 3 – Provide strategic roadmaps for research and development for each participating DOT. Based on the assessments in phase 1 and 2 provide roadmaps including estimated costs and potential timelines for each participating state.

It is recommended that each state commit to the study for three years at $175,000 per year making a total commitment of $525,000 per state. To start the study it is recommended that at least five states commit to the study.