As community planners, flight operators and other stakeholders collaborate to bring AAM to a region, these questions will arise. AAM operations will vary based on location, resources, and need. Not all questions and considerations will apply.  

General  

How does the FAA decide where AAM operations should go?

The FAA does not independently select locations for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations. Instead, aircraft operators, vertiport developers, airports, and local governments typically propose and agree upon where operations may occur. The FAA’s role is to ensure that proposed operations can be safely integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS) and coordinated with existing air traffic procedures.

Federal planning efforts emphasize collaboration between federal agencies, industry partners, and local communities to support safe integration. Communities, infrastructure developers, and operators play an important role in determining where AAM operations may be appropriate.

When can they fly? Will the hours of operation be limited?

Hours of operation will likely vary depending on the location, operational needs, and local considerations. In the early stages of AAM deployment, many operations are expected to leverage existing aviation infrastructure such as airports or heliports. As a result, operations may follow existing airspace procedures and operational limitations. Local planning decisions, consumer demand, community considerations, and operational requirements may also influence operating hours.

• Will there be limits to the number air-taxis that will operate in a given area at one time?
• How far will the AAM aircraft be able to travel?  
• Where can they fly, and where will they fly to and from?
• What workforce is needed to support AAM and how do I prepare my community?

Technical  

Do all AAM aircraft run on electricity?

Many AAM aircraft concepts use electric propulsion systems, particularly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. However, not all AAM aircraft rely solely on batteries. Some designs may incorporate hybrid-electric propulsion or hydrogen fuel cell technology depending on mission requirements and aircraft design. The national AAM strategy anticipates continued advancement in electrified propulsion technologies and energy systems.

How are lithium batteries safe for AAM when I can’t bring them on a plane?

Passenger restrictions on lithium batteries primarily apply to spare or loose batteries carried in luggage because those batteries are not part of an aircraft’s certified systems. In contrast, batteries used in AAM aircraft are integrated into the aircraft’s certified design and must meet FAA airworthiness and safety standards. As part of the aircraft certification process, the FAA evaluates the battery system, installation design, and operational procedures to ensure they meet aviation safety requirements.

• What type of batteries will be used?  

Landing Site Logistics  

What infrastructure do I need for AAM?  

Initial AAM operations are expected to leverage existing aviation infrastructure such as airports and heliports, potentially with modifications. As operations expand, purpose-built facilities known as vertiports or vertistops—specialized areas designed to support vertical takeoff and landing aircraft—may also be developed to accommodate these operations. Infrastructure planning may also include considerations such as energy supply, passenger access, communications systems, and integration with existing ground transportation networks.

• How much power-supply will I need for a vertiport?  
• How much space do I need to plan for a vertiport?  
• How tall can the buildings around a vertiport be?

Noise and Visual Impacts

• What is the average noise decibel level of an AAM aircraft, and what modern aircraft is comparable and familiar to an average citizen?  
• How much of a visual impact will there be for communities that experience frequent, repeated, low level AAM activities?

Safety and Certification  

What are the certification requirements for AAM pilots?

The FAA issued a final rule for powered-lift aircraft in October 2024 establishing pilot and instructor certification requirements as well as operational rules. The rule provides a framework for training and certification that accounts for the unique characteristics of powered-lift aircraft used in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) operations. The operational rules are performance-based, allowing the appropriate regulations to apply depending on the aircraft’s flight characteristics. Additional information is available on the FAA’s FAQs page for the powered-lift rule.

What are the certification requirements for AAM aircraft?

Aircraft used for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) must meet FAA airworthiness certification standards. The FAA uses an existing regulatory framework that evaluates aircraft design, production, airworthiness, operational safety, and system reliability to ensure appropriate safety standards are met. Because many AAM aircraft incorporate new technologies—such as electric propulsion and novel aircraft configurations – the FAA may tailor existing rules or establish additional airworthiness criteria specific to powered-lift aircraft. These evaluations rely on the same data-driven approach that has helped create the safest aviation system in the world.

How do you test AAM to ensure they are safe for the public to fly in them?

AAM aircraft must undergo extensive testing and evaluation before passenger operations can begin. This includes aircraft certification testing, flight testing, operational validation, and system safety evaluations.

Federal planning documents emphasize coordinated testing between government agencies, industry partners, and established aviation test ranges to validate aircraft performance and operational concepts before widespread deployment.

Privacy, Police, and Surveillance  

• Will they interfere with our police drone deployments?
• Who has priority in a police situation?
• Will they be flying over during a tactical situation with local police departments?
• Can they release law enforcement data collected while flying over a police event?
• What protection do we have that the data collected while landing on our property is not released to the public, including what the drone may capture via open windows and doors, both verbal and visual?  

UAS and Drones  

• How do we handle customers with animals in their yard if a drone enters private property?
• What liability does the customer have if the drone is damaged while delivering a package?
• What is Amazon doing with the data they collect, both visual and verbal?
• Will there be limits to the number of drones that will fly in each area at one time?