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Michigan Allots Over $6M for Advanced Air Mobility Projects

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announces that Beta Technologies, Skyports, Traverse Connect, and Michigan Central will receive fresh funding.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 05:09 PM ET

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Beta Technologies, developer of electric aircraft and charging stations, is one of four companies receiving funding from Michigan’s AAM Activation Fund. [Courtesy: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Michigan is investing $6.25 million into Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure, encompassing drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis, to study use cases and guide regulation.
The funding, from the Michigan AAM Activation Fund, is allocated to four key projects: electric aircraft charging stations by Beta Technologies, ship-to-shore drone delivery services by Skyports, medical and environmental drone applications by Traverse Connect, and AAM innovation development by Michigan Central.
These investments aim to create high-tech jobs, grow cutting-edge businesses, and prepare Michigan for future air transportation, reinforcing its position as a mobility pioneer.
Specific applications being explored include statewide electric charging networks, drone delivery of critical medical supplies to rural areas, marine surveying, and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone testing for various services.

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Advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure is coming to Michigan, the state’s Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced Wednesday.

Four projects intended to study potential AAM use cases and guide Michigan lawmakers as they regulate the industry have received a total of $6.25 million in funding. AAM is an umbrella term used by the FAA to denote new forms of passenger- and cargo-carrying aircraft, from drones to electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.