Revolutionizing Advanced Air Mobility: The Michigan Model Explained

Efforts to integrate AAM aircraft are trickling down to the states.

Jack Daleo

Monday, December 22, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Drones fly above ground robots at the University of Michigan’s autonomous vehicle testbed site that is expanding to include electric and uncrewed aerial vehicles. [Szczepanski/Michigan Engineering]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is actively advancing the safe integration of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft, such as drones and eVTOLs, through new regulations, guidance, and a federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) anticipated to scale operations by 2028.
States like Michigan are proactively leading AAM development, with its Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) investing over $10 million in grants for testbeds, infrastructure, and pilot projects spanning air taxi corridors, medical drone delivery, and more.
Other states are replicating Michigan's comprehensive approach, collaborating through initiatives like the AAM Multistate Collaborative to harmonize regulations and infrastructure, and committing to participate in the FAA's eIPP for future AAM deployments.

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The FAA has taken major strides toward the safe integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft such as drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.

A special federal aviation regulation (SFAR) for powered-lift pilot training and operations, guidance for powered-lift certification projects, a proposal for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flight, and more have been introduced in recent months. An eVTOL Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) is set to begin next year and conclude in 2028—a year the FAA anticipates AAM operations scaling up in major U.S. cities.