FutureFlight
Another Pivotal Year for Advanced Air Mobility Draws to a Close
The past 12 months have seen new aircraft taking to the air for the first time, and also progress with ground-breaking propulsion systems and the infrastructure needed to support new types of air transportation.
Eviation's all-electric Alice commuter airplane is pictured during its first flight test on Sept. 27, 2022.
The first flight of Eviation's all-electric Alice commuter airplane in September was one of this year's biggest highlights for the aviation industry. (Photo: Eviation)

For the past decade, dozens of start-ups have been raising billions of dollars to develop a new breed of aircraft tapping more sustainable electric propulsion and autonomous flight technology, with the promise of revolutionizing the way people and cargo get around. Although it is still very much a nascent industry, 2022 has proven to be a pivotal year for advanced air mobility (AAM), as vehicle manufacturers and regulators alike have taken some monumental steps toward making that dream a reality. All of the progress this year set the stage for a busy 2023 in terms of infrastructure, certification, and technological advancements.

“As you all know, 2022 has been a remarkable year for this industry. And in a lot of ways, it's a milestone in the evolution of advanced air mobility,” NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen said during a panel discussion at Honeywell's Air Mobility Summit, which was held in September in Washington, D.C. Bolen pointed to the attention the emerging market began to get in the mainstream media, the formation of the Advanced Air Mobility caucus on Capitol Hill in June, then a "tremendous number of announcements over the course of the summer, and a lot of excitement as we're beginning to look forward to a new year."