Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Vertiport Automation Trade Study

This trade study explores the barriers to scaling Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) vertiports. It identifies capability gaps, regulatory uncertainties, and knowledge gaps hindering high-volume AAM traffic. The study proposes potential solutions across technology, infrastructure, policy, and community acceptance, highlighting areas for further research. <!-- --> <!-- notionvc: ba722e31-1102-49c0-858b-e9a1a1aa447e -->

The study identifies key gaps across four themes: technology (aircraft communication, traffic management), physical infrastructure (energy grid, space constraints), policy (regulatory uncertainty, zoning), and community acceptance (noise, safety concerns). It provides potential mitigations such as standardized protocols, collaborative infrastructure development, regulatory clarification, and community engagement. Critical research areas include automation needs, energy grid requirements, security protocols, and scheduling technologies. The paper emphasizes the necessity of collaboration between government, industry, and academia to overcome these challenges and fully realize AAM's potential. By recognizing and mitigating these gaps, high-tempo operations and technological functions can be revolutionized within urban environments, pushing forward the future of AAM.<!-- notionvc: 49910195-78f0-4b24-a446-fed09c66379b -->