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Who’s Investing in Advanced Air Mobility?
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry faces a funding shift, with a 50% drop in venture funding from 2022 to 2023, which continued to decline in 2024. However, government interest and investment have accelerated globally. AUVSI New England UAS and AAM Summit discussed challenges and opportunities in AAM funding and infrastructure.
- Jim Graham, Senior VP at Delta Connection and CEO of Endeavor Air, emphasized that reliability and safety standards as main airlines must meet for AAM to succeed but achieving full reliability remains a significant hurdle. Each state may pursue different use cases, differing from commercial to public service. Stacy Swider of Mass Ventures advised companies to 'bite off one thing at a time.'
- AAM industry must offer a seamless user experience to succeed commercially, requiring dependable infrastructure such as establishing cost-effective routes with consistent service. Companies must ensure that service delivery matches public needs; this depends on meeting local demands. The primary competition of AAM is established travel options like cars and trains.
- Infrastructure challenges in AAM, such as building viable vertiports and training a workforce that can sustain high-tech operations, public acceptance, clear charging stations, and fire safety measures for electric AAM vehicles. For communities that can’t support 50-seat aircraft, AAM may provide much-needed connectivity. The industry’s future may depend on partnerships between governments and private entities.
- Current technology limits must be addressed for AAM to become a mainstream travel option. With state and federal funding, AAM may become a viable transportation alternative in the U.S. However, until companies can deliver the reliability and affordability required, the question remains: if we build it, will they come?
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