ACRP is soliciting Letters of Interest from those interested in performing the research work. A cover letter plus a resume or CV should convey a concise idea of your knowledge of the topic and your related work and experience in the subject area. A statement that you can comply with the terms of the contract should be included. A panel of topic experts will select the contractor at their first panel meeting. The deadline for letters of interest is February 1, 2025 by 5pm eastern and can be submitted at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8093208/ACRP-Synthesis-LOI-2025

Tentative Scope 

The rapid advancement of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies, particularly electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has the potential to revolutionize urban transportation. These technologies promise to reduce urban congestion, enhance connectivity, and contribute to sustainability goals by offering cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation. However, the integration of AAM into the urban fabric presents unprecedented challenges. Current aviation methods of safety assurance and risk management were developed for a different era of air travel, focusing primarily on traditional aircraft and airports. They do not fully account for the operational, safety, and community impact considerations unique to AAM, such as low-altitude operations in densely populated areas, the establishment and management of vertiports, and the integration with existing urban infrastructure and transportation systems. Some cities and regions worldwide have begun to explore the possibilities of AAM and developed planning frameworks, including adoption of In-Time Aviation Safety Management Systems (IASMS) that both address these challenges and incorporate non-traditional aviation stakeholders as part of these systems.

The objective of this synthesis is to document the state planning frameworks that have been developed to support the integration of AAM into existing state and regional airport system planning.

Information to be described in a concise report includes (but is not limited to):

• Identify the states that have adopted In-Time Aviation Safety Management Systems (IASMS) including Services, Functions, and Capabilities (SFCs) provided by or for the full range of stakeholders including airport operators and state, regional, local, and tribal entities.
• Document and define the needed services, functions, and capabilities that have been identified in the state plans as it relates to the IASMS architecture, and how this meets the local need.
• Identify considerations that regional and city planners, airport operators, and urban developers considered when planning for the integrating vertiport infrastructure and AAM operations.
• Document the stakeholder engagement plans including the strategy for engaging with all stakeholders involved in AAM development and deployment. 
• Identify pilot programs of AAM implementation planning in various urban and regional settings.
• Case examples should include the experience with existing state and regional efforts to establish planning procedures and frameworks and challenges of AAM within those regions.

Information will be collected through literature review, a survey of all state that have created a state aviation system plan that includes AAM, and interviews with selected airports for the development of case examples. Knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research to address those gaps will also be identified. 

Partial Information Sources:

ACRP Report 243: Urban Air Mobility: An Airport Perspective https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26899/urban-air-mobility-an-airport-perspective

Developing a Roadmap for Autonomy and Air Traffic Management Safety https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9925763

Consensus Study Report: In-Time Aviation Safety Management: Challenges and Research for an Evolving Aviation System. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.17226/24962

FAA Safety Management System: Policy and Requirements https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms/reference_library/policy_and_requirements