Final Scope 

BACKGROUND
The rapid advancement of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technologies has the potential to revolutionize air transportation. These technologies promise to reduce travel time, enhance connectivity, and contribute to sustainability goals by offering cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation. Current aviation methods of safety assurance and risk management 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 ground infrastructure and transportation systems. Some cities and regions have begun to explore the possibilities of AAM and developed planning frameworks that both address these challenges and incorporate non-traditional aviation stakeholders as part of these systems. 

OBJECTIVE & AUDIENCE
The objective of this synthesis is to document the state planning efforts that have been developed to support the integration of AAM into existing state aviation system planning. For this project, AAM should focus on “larger, initially piloted aircraft designed to carry passengers, or similar sized aircraft designed to carry cargo” (ACRP Synthesis 130, pg. 2). The audience for this synthesis is state aviation agencies, practitioners that complete airport/system planning work products, OEMs/AAM operators, and airport operators.  

INFO TO BE GATHERED & TASKS
Information to be described in a concise report includes (but is not limited to):

• Document inclusion of AAM in state aviation system plans, and other state-wide or regional AAM planning efforts.
• Identify priorities that are considered by on-airport and off-airport stakeholders for the safe operation of AAM.
• Document the lessons learned by previous stakeholder engagement plans including the strategy for engaging with all stakeholders involved in AAM development and deployment.
• Identify pilot programs of AAM implementation in various urban and regional settings
• Identify data that is collected for the integration of AAM into existing state aviation system plans.
• 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 aviation agencies, interviews with selected stakeholders, such as state aviation agencies and airports, for the development of case examples. Knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research to address those gaps will also be identified.

STATUS: A research agency has been selected for the project. The contracting process is underway.