top of page
Search

The Need for a Practical Approach to AAM

  • Writer: Aaron Thelenwood
    Aaron Thelenwood
  • Nov 18, 2025
  • 3 min read

As Michigan’s AAM landscape expands, one challenge comes up again and again: airport and community leaders are expected to understand a fast-moving ecosystem without clear, accessible guidance. The Michigan AAM Readiness Index highlights this reality — interest across the state is high, but foundational awareness varies, leaving many unsure where to begin or how to prioritize efforts.



A practical approach to AAM is urgently needed — one grounded in the realities of general aviation airports, federal regulatory frameworks, industry & community needs, and the expanding ecosystem of behind-the-scenes technology that powers operations. AAM involves more than aircraft. It includes digital routing systems, UTM integrations, sensor networks, charging interfaces, data sharing, and infrastructure decisions that reach far beyond a single facility or operator.A practical AAM approach helps leaders focus on what matters today, without overcommitting or being pulled into hype cycles. Several themes consistently rise to the surface:


1. AAM must be understood before it can be planned.

Leaders need a baseline understanding of AAM elements — drone logistics, emerging BVLOS frameworks, early eVTOL certification pathways, and the digital infrastructure that ties these systems together. Planning is only as strong as the assumptions behind it.


2. No airport — and no community — can approach AAM Alone.


AAM succeeds through connected networks, not standalone facilities. Airports serve as the nodes that support logistics, data flows, charging access, and future corridor mapping. Communities will increasingly rely on their local airports as aviation experts, especially as AAM intersects with the public, public health, emergency response, and regional mobility.


3. Planning comes before infrastructure.


Airports and municipalities do not need to focus on vertiports or high-power charging installations at this stage. Early readiness is about internal education, understanding regulatory pathways, assessing existing assets, and establishing the partnerships that will inform future infrastructure decisions.


4. Vertiports are not (always) the first step.


FAA standards continue to evolve, and many early AAM operations will rely on existing facilities, drone logistics, or hybrid approaches that blend on- and off-airport activity. Vertiport development will follow — not lead — operational reality.


5. Partnerships make early progress possible — and the good news is, partners are actively engaging.


Coordination with operators, utilities, state agencies, OEMs, universities, and regional partners will shape how quickly AAM scales. Many entities are actively engaging — not simply open to collaboration — and are seeking opportunities to support forward-looking airports and communities. This level of active engagement is one of Michigan’s biggest strategic advantages.


6. AAM should support broader strategic objectives.


AAM intersects with economic development, sustainability, workforce pipelines, land use, and long-range planning. Leaders who integrate AAM into existing strategies are better positioned for future funding and partnership opportunities.


7. There are practical steps leaders can take now with outsized impact.

High-value, low-cost actions include:


  • Reviewing regulatory basics and state-level guidance

  • Mapping existing assets and understanding utility capacity

  • Engaging utilities early

  • Developing relationships with operators, OEMs, and industry partners

  • Identifying local use cases tied to regional needs

  • Exploring collaborative partnerships with peer airports

  • Establishing an internal AAM point-of-contact or working group

  • Monitoring FAA rulemaking and grant opportunities

  • Leveraging advisory support where helpful

  • Understanding how AAM can supplement and integrate into existing growth and development plans (on-field, regionally, and beyond).


External Research Supporting This Practical Approach


Multiple independent sources reinforce the same conclusion: early AAM success depends on education, planning, collaboration, and regulatory clarity — not infrastructure-first investments.


  • NASA AAM Mission and Roadmaps — emphasize ecosystem-level planning and phased integration

  • FAA Urban Air Mobility ConOps v2.0 — highlights safety frameworks and incremental implementation

  • GAO Reports on UAS and AAM Integration — identify regulatory comprehension and planning readiness

  • Deloitte & McKinsey AAM Readiness Analyses — point to network effects and data infrastructure

  • NREL, MITRE, and industry studies — underscore the importance of understanding electrical capacity


The Readiness Index reflects a network that is engaged, curious, and beginning to prepare — but still early in building the shared understanding required for sustained progress.


To support this, Thelenwood Consulting is exploring the development of a practical, Michigan-focused AAM Primer designed for airport and community leaders.Would you be interested in a course like this? Would you support efforts to develop a practical AAM Primer for Michigan’s airport network? Your input will help guide what comes next: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MI_AAM_Primer_2025


Citations



Published November 18th, 2025

By: Aaron Thelenwood, Founder


 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page