Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is an umbrella term which defines a future concept of mobility and of transportation of people and goods. AAM incorporates use cases of urban, suburban and rural transportation using innovative aerial vehicles, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), short take-off and landing vehicles (STOLs) and autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs).

 

The term AAM is often used interchangeably with Urban Air Mobility (UAM); however, AAM is inclusive of the rural and suburban counterparts whereas the latter mainly focuses on urban connectivity. AAM/UAM is seen as a synergy between the automotive industry and civil aviation.

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What does AAM offer?

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With new developments in cutting-edge technologies and advancements in aircraft designs, it has become possible to allow for greater connectivity of regions with limited road transportation services as well as improvements to popular but crowded routes.

 

Thus, AAM opens up many channels for delivery of goods and people-carrying services used for urban, suburban and rural operations.  

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Applications of AAM

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Exhaust emissions are a leading environmental issue. AAM aims to help ease this by providing a more sustainable mode of transport, made possible through new technological solutions in lean fuel combustion, new battery technologies and hydrogen fuel cells. 

 

Applications of AAM span civil, commercial and defence use cases. Whether this means providing the public with a faster commute, or using AAM vehicles for military surveillance and rescue services.

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AAM services can also be used to transport patients and deliver medical supplies from hospital to remote location. People living in the outskirts of cities or in small towns often travel in for work or leisure; AAM operations can make this journey faster, smoother and more efficient. 

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The road ahead

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According to Deloitte, by year 2035 the AAM market will generate $115billion USD as well as generating over 280,000 jobs further benefiting the economy and employment capacity.

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AAM is not a replacement for existing transport infrastructure (e.g. railways, motorways) but offers an alternative to cater to individual transport needs. Mass AAM implementation has the potential to provide economic and environmental benefits, ease logistics and transport demands, and revolutionise airborne operations.

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Sources and suggested reading : 

 

1. Advanced Air Mobility -  NASA

2. Advanced Air Mobility  - Deloitte  

3. Advanced Air Mobility: Ensuring the Future of Travel Today - Aerospace industry Association