Industry Insights

For communities exploring the future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), California offers something few other states can provide: a glimpse into what comes next. Widely regarded as the epicenter of modern U.S. Advanced Air Mobility development, California has become one of the nation's most important proving grounds for emerging aviation technologies, infrastructure planning strategies, public-private partnerships, and future deployment models. That influence extends far beyond

Making AAM Real™ Through Experience, Strategy, and Action AAMRadar™ and McClardy Aviation Strategies, LLC are proud to announce a strategic collaboration focused on helping airports, communities, industry partners, and public agencies navigate the evolving future of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). As aviation enters a new era of emerging technologies, infrastructure modernization, and operational transformation, successful deployment require

The Airport AAM Readiness Index started with a simple goal: To bring clarity to a space that was generating a lot of interest—but not always clear direction. In its initial phase, the Index focused on Michigan. That was intentional. It provided a defined environment, in a state where AAM is actively expanding, to test a framework, refine the questions, and understand how airports were thinking about AAM in practice—not just in theory. What it revealed went beyond individual r

Advanced Air Mobility is moving forward. Interest is high. Policy is taking shape. Investment is happening. Airports, communities, and industry partners are all looking to understand where AAM actually works—not just what’s possible, but where it fits, where it serves, and where it can be deployed in high-impact scenarios. That’s the biggest hurdle—and often the biggest blind spot. Because while activity is increasing across aircraft, infrastructure, and funding, how these pi

Michigan Maritime Innovation Grant https://www.michiganbusiness.org/ofme/projects-and-programs/funding-and-testing/technology-deployments/maritime-innovation-grant/ At first glance, Michigan’s Maritime Innovation Grant looks like a mode-specific program—focused on ports, waterways, and maritime infrastructure. But the structure tells a different story. This is not just a maritime investment. It is part of a broader shift in how states are approaching mobility—moving away from

Grosse Ile Municipal Airport With roots as a former naval air station and nearly a century of continuous operation, Grosse Ile Municipal Airport has long served as a uniquely adaptable aviation asset within Southeast Michigan. Positioned along the Detroit River, the airport has historically operated at the intersection of air, land, and water—supporting military operations, general aviation, and regional connectivity across multiple modes. That legacy is not just historical c

Advanced Air Mobility is often associated with air taxis. It’s the most visible concept—and for many, the assumed starting point. But when you look at where actual deployment activity is happening, a different pattern begins to emerge. AAM is not beginning with passengers. It’s taking root where there is already a problem to solve . Photo by Huseyin Cakir on Unsplash https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advanced-air-mobility/advanced-air-mobility-aircraft-emerge-contested-l

Advanced Air Mobility is often associated with air taxis. But when you look at where actual deployment activity is happening, a different pattern emerges. Photo by Hyundai Motor Group on Unsplash AAM is not beginning with passengers. It’s taking root where there is already a problem to solve . https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advanced-air-mobility/advanced-air-mobility-aircraft-emerge-contested-logistics-enablers Across the industry, early AAM activity is consistently alig

For a long time, Advanced Air Mobility progressed without a shared model. That is beginning to change. Source: Getty Images for Unsplash With the rollout of the FAA eIPP, we now have early direction on how AAM is expected to move from concept into operation. What strengthens this signal is that similar patterns are emerging beyond eIPP itself. Across regions, we are seeing alignment around: Defined use cases Multi-partner coordination Infrastructure tied to operations In the.

San Antonio is getting attention—and it should. Source: https://view.ceros.com/cbre/innovation-tower/p/1 San Antonio is getting attention—and it should. The project is centered within a roughly 1,900-acre former Kelly Air Force Base redevelopment , now one of the largest aerospace and innovation hubs in the country. Within that footprint, AAM is not being treated as a standalone concept or future add-on. It is being positioned inside a working aviation ecosystem that already

The recent milestone from Eve Air Mobility—surpassing 50 test flights—would have been headline-defining a year ago. Today, it’s something else: expected. Source: eveairmobility That’s because Eve is no longer alone. Across the industry, multiple OEMs are now flying, testing, and refining their aircraft in parallel. Joby Aviation continues progressing through FAA certification pathways with piloted operations. BETA Technologies is not only flying its aircraft, but pairing tho

The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced a one-time $5 million State/Local Airport Program for FY2026. Published by GettyImages for Unsplash The program supports capital development, maintenance, equipment procurement, and revenue-generating projects, with applications due May 1 and projects required to be completed within the fiscal year. Given recent budget constraints, many airports have deferred priority infrastructure and operational projects. This funding

Michigan’s 2026 Real-World Deployment and Test Site Grants have moved into Round 2, with applications open through May 15. Photo by Jason Brower on Unsplash The program continues to support both controlled test environments and real-world deployment projects across cities, airports, and transportation corridors. With Round 1 complete, expectations are now clearer. Projects must be operational—not conceptual—and must demonstrate defined partnerships, clear use cases, and alig

What the eIPP Selections Reveal — and What They Mean for Michigan and the Midwest Beyond the announcement itself, the eIPP selections provide a clearer view into how Advanced Air Mobility is expected to move from concept into structured deployment. The FAA selected eight lead entities: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey This is the densest urban/multi-concept proposal in the group. Publicly, it includes planned passenger eVTOL operations at the Manhattan heliport and

The FAA recently announced the selected proposals for the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), naming eight lead programs spanning 26 states. This marks a transition point for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in the United States—not toward broad deployment, but toward structured, real-world integration. Published by ParisBilal for Unsplash The eIPP is designed as a federal integration program to enable limited AAM and eVTOL operations in defined environments, generate operati

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are moving fast—and Michigan is in a strong position to lead. But to build a real talent pipeline, we need a clear picture of what’s already happening across our state colleges and universities. Photo by LexScope on Unsplash Thelenwood Consulting is benchmarking AAM/UAS curriculum and program offerings across Michigan’s higher-ed landscape. The goal is straightforward: identify where programs already exist, wher

Michigan is often recognized for its automotive legacy, but today the state’s mobility advantage extends far beyond cars and trucks alone. Over the past two decades, Michigan has intentionally built a diverse network of mobility test sites—each designed to answer a different question about how new technologies perform in the real world. Photo by Siyuan on Unsplash Some sites replicate harsh environmental conditions. Others embed innovation directly into cities, campuses, air

Michigan has reopened one of its most impactful mobility funding opportunities: the 2026 Real-World Deployment and Test Site Grants, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) through the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME). Photo by Maximalfocus on Unsplash At their core, these grants are designed to help proven technologies move into operational environments—supporting testing, validation, and deployment across Michigan’s mobility

Why the Strongest Applications Will Be Built by Coalitions Michigan’s 2026 Real World Deployment and Test Site Grants are now open through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP). While the program offers meaningful funding for mobility and transportation innovation, the signal for this cycle is clear: the State of Michigan is prioritizing coalitions that can execute across sectors, jurisdictions, and systems. At Thelenwood Consulting, our primary objective in 2026 is h

Advanced Air Mobility is no longer hypothetical. Interest is widespread. Activity is accelerating. Across Michigan and the broader region, airports, communities, and businesses are asking the same question: What comes next—and how do we do this together? At Thelenwood Consulting, our focus in 2026 is clear: moving AAM from momentum to integration, and from isolated activity to sustainable, community-grounded systems. That work cannot happen in silos. Why Consortiums Matter N