Blog
Ohio Flying High in Advanced Air Mobility
A new revolution in aviation and transportation has taken off across the county, and Ohio is leading the way. Leaning on a rich legacy of aviation expertise and a commitment to future-forward innovation, the advanced air mobility (AAM) market has found a home in the Buckeye State.
I had the pleasure of talking about the electric vehicle take-off and landing (eVTOL) industry with Rich Fox, director for the DriveOhio Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center, on a recent episode of the eVTOL Insights podcast hosted by Jason Pritchard, the podcast’s executive editor. Click here to access the eVTOL Insights podcast.
Rich, Jason, and I covered a wide range of topics related to AAM, but we really focused on what makes Ohio the ideal place for eVTOL companies to build, test, and fly.
Working with DriveOhio as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation, JobsOhio is advancing the collective strategy for AAM flights and a pathway for integration. In fact, Ohio is the only state with a statewide strategy for AAM flights and integration within urban centers and rural communities. As we discussed on the podcast, Ohio has established a corridor for autonomous flight testing and planning with the goal of connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and beyond.
Very simply, we’re enabling the AAM industry for incredible success in Ohio.
So, what sets Ohio apart from other states?
- Proximity – Ohio’s eVTOL test range at Springfield-Beckley airport is adjacent to Wright Patterson AFB, AFRL, and Agility Prime program office and supports commercial flights.
- SkyVision Detect & Avoid and FAA certificate of authorization (COA) enable piloted and unpiloted test flights and eVTOLs companies to fly beyond visual line-of-site (BVLOS).
- Ohio is the first state to establish the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence.
- The NASA National Campaign positions Ohio as the only state focused on AAM state-wide adoption in urban and rural areas with flights along major interstate corridor (I-71)
- Ohio is working with AAM stakeholders across Ohio (metropolitan planners, healthcare, industry, economic development, airports, and technology companies) to address community integration and AAM market development.
- Ohio has a successful collaborative partnership among ODOT, JobsOhio, local economic development partners, Ohio hospitals and metropolitan planning organizations that is driving our strategy and execution.
- ODOT has established the Vertiport Challenge to connect students at Ohio universities/colleges on real-life applications and identifying opportunities in the marketplace
As you can see, stakeholders from across Ohio are serious about our commitment to AAM and the market opportunity it creates. Ohio’s AAM market is estimated at $13 billion in the areas of healthcare, emergency response, cargo delivery, and passenger taxi. The Ohio AAM market is projected to create 15,000 jobs by 2045 and establish 81 vertiports (take-off and landing locations) in Ohio*.
Build, test, and fly – Ohio has the infrastructure, the rich pool of technical talent, the business-friendly environment, and the overall will to help AAM companies reach new heights in the future of aviation and transportation.
Want to learn more? Reach out to me. I’m happy to talk all things AAM in Ohio.
Tim Sweeney
Director of Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace
JobsOhio
* Reference: Crown Consulting, NEXA Capital Partners, University of Cincinnati Economic Impact study.