A new study commissioned by Vertx Partners identifies West Virginia as a potential leader in the emerging AAM field; here are the key takeaways from the study.
CHARLESTON, WV, Feb. 5, 2024 — Vertx Partners is proud to announce the release of a groundbreaking Deloitte study assessing West Virginia’s potential to become a hub for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). The comprehensive study reveals key insights into the booming AAM market in the United States and positions West Virginia as a strategic player in this transformative industry. You can find the full study here.
While many national studies on AAM concentrate on urban applications, this report uniquely explores the potential and challenges of implementing AAM in rural settings.
Background
The report codifies observations on West Virginia’s existing AAM ecosystem, as well as appraising several of the benefits of AAM adoption. Here are several of the critical contextual details:
- West Virginia’s Potential: West Virginia emerges as a potential driver and early adopter of AAM due to its strategic location within 500 miles of 40% of the U.S. population, rugged landscape, and local demand for accessible transportation.
- Economic and Societal Benefits: Enabling AAM in West Virginia would unlock several economic and societal benefits, assuming technology maturation and integration are realized. Establishing an AAM industry in West Virginia could create almost 5,500 jobs and generate an additional $29 million in annual state tax revenue.
- Test Environments in Remote Areas: Over 81% of West Virginia’s population lives in rugged terrain, which are also areas that provide ideal test environments for assessing the environmental impact of AAM, including noise and the acoustic impact of vehicles, which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deems a primary challenge to aviation growth.
- Mingo County & Education Initiatives: West Virginia is actively investing in AAM education and training. The Mingo County Redevelopment Authority’s (MCRA) AAM K-16 curriculum initiative is cited for its development of AAM curriculum to be deployed statewide. Other statewide post-secondary programs offer vocational training, apprenticeships, and advanced degrees in AAM-related fields.
- WV AAM Policy: Central to AAM initiatives is the West Virginia Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Advisory Council, formed in 2022 to advance AAM initiatives in West Virginia. The report recommends extending the UAS Council to include Working Groups to expand the ecosystem and AAM efforts. Additionally, West Virginia’s legislative framework consists of two policies specific to AAM, promoting a unified regulatory approach and the development of a network of vertiports.
Four Pillars & Future Recommendations
To better understand the state’s capabilities, needs, and advantages in AAM, the assessment leveraged over 70 online sources, engaged 10 AAM experts, and included more than 40 interviews with West Virginian AAM stakeholders.
The study also assesses four critical factors determining a locale’s potential to capitalize on AAM and recommends action items to build on the existing pillars:
- Ecosystem: West Virginia has a distinct ecosystem that could enable AAM if properly organized and mobilized. To unlock the full spectrum of benefits that AAM can offer the state, West Virginia needs a state government-led approach to strategically capitalize on and enhance its existing assets, fostering the development and maturation of the AAM industry within its borders.
- Funding: The state possesses an array of existing federal and state funding mechanisms that can be leveraged to support AAM operations. Based on other states’ experiences, additional dedicated funding for AMM activities is essential for fostering a successful industry in West Virginia.
- Policy: Policy is a crucial driver to support AAM operations. The state has several policies and legislative measures that foster AAM development. Creating an AAM focal point in the state is necessary to become stewards of policy, funding, and leveraging new legislation to support and attract the industry.
- Infrastructure: West Virginia has multiple state-wide initiatives to promote communication system interoperability, including the West Virginia Statewide Interoperable Radio Network (SIRN) and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan. Additionally, MCRA is in the process of procuring a mobile airspace monitoring system to be used for education purposes and commercial/governmental applications. The study concludes that leveraging and expanding the unique mobile AAM systems, while developing permanent AAM infrastructure, enables operations at scale in the long term. Procuring and deploying multiple mobile airspace monitoring systems would support a versatile and transportable AAM test environment.
In Conclusion
AAM is a transformative sector forecasted to revolutionize the transport of goods, services, and people. Through the use of drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and supporting operating systems, this new air transportation system can provide essential access to underserved areas.
Key developments suggest the AAM market is ready to flourish, and West Virginia stands to reap significant economic and societal benefits. AAM can provide critical services to underserved populations, enhancing quality of life. Further, AAM creates specialized, high-paying jobs that upskill, retain, and grow West Virginia’s workforce.
The report makes it clear that there is still progress to be made. One of its main recommendations is for the state to invest in AAM and create an authoritative body to govern future AAM developments. The study mentions “a discernible need for dedicated state funding streams to signal strong governmental commitment to industry, attract additional private investment, and stimulate job creation.” Additionally, a designated full-time AAM focal point within state government would play a pivotal role in coordinating AAM efforts across departments to enable tailored policies, efficient resource allocation, and targeted stakeholder engagement.To learn more and get involved, Vertx Partners invites you to read the study in full here.