Advanced Air Mobility

Arizona's relationship with aviation stretches back to the earliest years of flight. In 1919, Tucson opened what is recognized as the nation's first municipal airport, the site that later became Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, named for two local World War I pilots. Clear skies and open land soon made Arizona a top location for flight training, a role the state carried through World War II at fields like Luke, Williams, and Falcon.

That history helped build the aviation system Arizona has today, a network of general aviation and commercial airports that has also served as a testing ground for new aerospace technologies. Now the state is preparing for the next chapter in flight: Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).

What Is Advanced Air Mobility?

Under Arizona law, Advanced Air Mobility is an air transportation system that primarily uses electric aircraft to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or regional area. SB 1307 defines AAM to include three categories of aircraft:

eCTOL (electric conventional takeoff and landing) aircraft. Electric aircraft that take off and land using a runway, much like a traditional fixed-wing airplane.
eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft. Electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, similar to a helicopter, but often quieter and more efficient.
Powered lift aircraft. Heavier-than-air aircraft capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing, and low-speed flight, which primarily use engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lifting the aircraft during takeoff and at least one non-rotating airfoil for lifting the aircraft during horizontal flight.

These aircraft have the potential to add new transportation options, ease congestion on the ground, support emergency response, and create economic opportunities across the state.

Why Arizona?

Arizona has favorable year-round flying weather, an established aerospace and defense industry, and a network of general aviation airports that could serve as future AAM hubs. The state's growing population centers, alongside its rural and tribal lands, give it room to work through both urban air mobility concepts and longer-range regional connectivity.

This isn't a distant, futuristic concept. It's happening now. Companies including Joby Aviation and Archer Aviation are currently flight testing FAA-conforming eVTOL aircraft, with real-world operations planned this year in several states. Archer has said it intends to begin commercial air taxi service in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. As these programs move forward around the country, Arizona has an opportunity to be ready for this technology as it arrives.

ADOT's Role

In 2025, the Arizona Legislature enacted Senate Bill 1307 (Chapter 185), which added a new article on Advanced Air Mobility Infrastructure to Title 28, Chapter 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The law defines Advanced Air Mobility as an air transportation system built around electric aircraft, including eCTOL, eVTOL, and powered lift aircraft, used to carry passengers or cargo in urban or regional settings.

Beginning September 1, 2026, SB 1307 directs ADOT to:

Incorporate AAM into the State Aviation System Plan (SASP), in consultation with airport-owning political subdivisions, commercial air carriers, the FAA, and other stakeholders, addressing public vertiports, electric aircraft charging stations, and related infrastructure needs.
Designate an AAM expert within the department to serve as a resource for local and regional jurisdictions and to build working relationships with airports, air carriers, the FAA, the U.S. DOT, and other stakeholders across the state.

ADOT has already met both of these requirements. The department designated an AAM Planner within the Aeronautics Group to serve as the AAM point of contact (POC), and work is underway on the SASP's AAM appendix, expected to conclude in fall 2026.

Going forward, the ADOT Aeronautics Group, part of the Multimodal Planning Division, will carry out these responsibilities. That means coordinating with airports on how AAM operations and vertiport infrastructure might fit into their long-term planning, serving as a statewide point of contact for industry and federal partners, and tracking federal and state policy developments such as FAA rulemaking on integrating advanced aircraft into the national airspace system.

This work builds on ADOT Aeronautics' existing mission of a safe, efficient, and well-planned aviation system for the state. It's also just the beginning. As Arizona's AAM program grows, ADOT will keep working with airports, industry partners, and communities across the state.

Looking Ahead

Advanced Air Mobility is still an emerging industry, and many questions remain open. Infrastructure, airspace integration, community engagement, and workforce development will all take time to work through. ADOT is committed to working with airports, industry, tribal governments, and federal partners on these issues so Arizona can pursue this technology safely and responsibly.

Looking further ahead, ADOT anticipates pursuing a statewide AAM strategic plan to help guide infrastructure planning and strategy for the years to come.

As AAM continues to develop, ADOT Aeronautics will keep aviation stakeholders informed of new developments, planning milestones, and opportunities to get involved.

For questions involving Advanced Air Mobility in Arizona, contact Jeff Webbe, AAE, C.M., AAM Planner, ADOT Aeronautics Group. He can be reached at [email protected].