American Planning Association publishes AAM report

The American Planning Association Planning Advisory Service (PAS) has published its new report, ‘Planning for Advanced Air Mobility’, a collaboration with the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI). It aims to prepare planners and policymakers for the potential impacts of advanced air mobility (AAM), aiming to ‘minimize the potential for adverse impacts and maximise the likelihood of sustainable and equitable outcomes’. The report concludes that ‘planners and policymakers will need to decide what level of commitment to and influence over AAM-related issues is desired by – and appropriate for – the public sector,’ with greater public sector influence likely to require ‘greater commitment in terms of institutional readiness, funding, and coordination with other public agencies’.  Additional government commitment could also allow for greater public-sector influence over AAM planning and operational outcomes. While the impact of technologies such as electrification and automation ‘remain to be seen, institutional capacity building, thoughtful planning and ongoing research’ will play an integral part in AAM adoption, concludes the report.