Corridors to Advance Air Mobility
Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) lies at the core of a burgeoning global market for Advanced Air Mobility solutions. Learn about the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to accelerate the eVTOL transition through dual-use development campaigns in central Texas.
What you’ll find out
- Why is the Air Force interested in Advance Air Mobility? (8:15)
- Is the federal sector ready for AAM? (10:23) Is the public? (13:23)
- What is dual use and why does it matter? (20:40)
- How does FAA view the integration of eVTOL into the airspace? (23:28)
- What funding for AAM or other aerial technologies is available at the state level? (37:28)
- What’s the message to industry and investors? (44:50)
- How will standard certifications for pilots, drone operators evolve? (57:10)
Key quotes
- “We find that our role as a city is providing civilian use cases for these technologies that our national security organizations want to have. The companies that make these things need to have commercial marketplaces.” — Dr. Ted Lehr, City of Austin Data Architect (4:53)
- “That requires us to stay abreast of where the development is coming from. Right now, we’re engaged with or at least communicating with well over 200 companies across our country that are in the process of doing things in the AAM and UTM type world.” — Rob Lowe, FAA Regional Administrator (11:08)
- “You have these two very unique markets that have to be met simultaneously with two different funding timelines…The commercialization side has to think about the venture capital. On our side, it’s a little different. We have to look at different colors of money.” — Lt Col Martin Salinas, AFWERX COO (21:28)
- “The state has a variety of economic development tools available that are basically public-private partnerships … and other types of tools for companies looking to get into these spaces.” — Glen Hamer, Texas Association of Business President and CEO (37:50)
- “Advance Air Mobility is going to be a thing if we get together and really focus on the benefits. When we pull at the heartstrings, these technologies can really save lives and make mankind a better place.” — Adrian Doko, AUVSI, Lone Star President (45:38)
- “We have to speak in one voice, as one team…There are a lot of organizations working and doing an amazing job. The important thing is to connect everyone together to witness AAM industry sooner.” — Darshan “Dash” Divakaran, AFWERX Senior Operations Research Analyst (53:17)
Who you’ll hear from (in order of appearance)
Darshan “Dash” Divakaran, Moderator, AFWERX Senior Operations Research Analyst
Dr. Ted Lehr, City of Austin Data Architect
Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business President and CEO
Lt Col Martin Salinas, AFWERX COO and Austin Hub Chief
Rob Lowe, FAA Regional Administrator
Adrian Doko, AUVSI, Lone Star President
About Fed Supernova
Fed Supernova is a two-day annual conference highlighting defense innovation in Texas. This first-of-its-kind interactive experience draws national attention and connects leading entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, corporations, and decision makers from around the world.About Capital Factory
Capital Factory is the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas, the number one startup state in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs, programmers and designers gather day and night, in-person and online for meetups, classes and coworking. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas and Houston, we meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to their first investors, employees, mentors and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active investor in Texas since 2013.
