U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy unveiled the nation’s first ever Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Strategy on Dec. 17, 2025, the anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first flight.
The strategy and accompanying action plan outline 40 recommendations to “safely and efficiently support AAM operations,” according to DOT officials.
“Since the Wright brothers first took flight in 1903, America has been at the forefront of aviation innovation. Today, we have a bold strategy to unlock the future of our skies and unleash this next chapter of aviation safely and efficiently,” said Duffy. “Advanced air mobility vehicles will benefit the American people — transforming how the flying public travels, how first responders jump into action and communities access healthcare, how businesses deliver goods, and how we defend our nation. I look forward to working together to make this dream a reality.”
What is AAM?
AAM is a rapidly-emerging aerospace sector focused on integrating automated aircraft into U.S. airspace. AAM is not a single technology but rather a range of innovations — particularly new aircraft types that typically operate below 5,000 feet — to transport people and packages, DOT officials explain.
“Beyond aircraft, AAM requires a modern support system, including a skilled workforce, upgraded infrastructure, and clear regulatory frameworks,” officials added.
The AAM Strategy
The strategy is organized around six key pillars:
- Airspace
- Infrastructure
- Security
- Community Planning and Engagement
- Workforce
- Automation
It sets forth 40 recommendations designed to establish “a resilient foundation for national policy,” according to DOT officials.
The agency’s AAM plan outlines action items across four phases, referred to as LIFT:
- Leverage existing programs to support Innovation and begin operations
- Initiate engagement with partners, research and development, and smart planning
- Forge new policy and models responsive to public needs
- Transform the aviation ecosystem
In 2022, Congress passed the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, recognizing the need for a whole-of-government approach to advance the Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem in the United States. This act directed the department to establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate federal efforts related to AAM adoption and deployment and to develop both an AAM National Strategy and a Comprehensive Plan.
Support for the AAM strategy came from the AAM industry, as well as aviation associations.
“Global leadership in advanced air mobility will be held by those who build, certify, and deploy first,” said Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA Technologies. “This national srategy, which lays out a bold, long-term vision for the future of this industry, puts the U.S. on that path, and BETA’s products are positioned to help deliver it. This creates a clear pathway for us to continue producing American-made, next generation technology to support both the needs of civilian communities and the mobility needs of our troops.”
“Advanced Air Mobility is the key to unlocking U.S. aviation leadership, addressing transportation and cargo gaps and supporting national security. The 2025 National AAM Strategy creates the roadmap for how the U.S. wins the autonomy race,” said Robert Rose, CEO and Co-Founder of Reliable Robotics. “FAA-certified aircraft autonomy will prevent the most common causes of aviation accidents, connect small towns and rural communities and provide transformational contested logistics capabilities to our warfighters.”
“Today is a significant day for the Advanced Air Mobility sector. GAMA applauds all the hard and collaborative work from the AAM Interagency Working Group, led by DOT, to create and put forth this national strategy,” said James Viola, President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). “This strategy will ensure that the U.S. will be a global leader in AAM through the sector’s integration into the national airspace system with a focus on adapting and improving infrastructure; strengthening the aviation workforce; adapting and improving infrastructure; expanding security, safety and automation; and furthering community planning and engagement. The growth of the AAM sector will facilitate additional transportation options, create jobs, stimulate economic activity and competitiveness, and foster further advancement in aerospace technology.”
“States are excited for the advent of Advanced Air Mobility operations and are working to position themselves to assist the FAA in integrating them into the system. We know that together with the federal government we have already invested in building thousands of airports across the nation in and around communities that are are well positioned to launch this exciting new technology,” said Greg Pecoraro, President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO). “States will be essential for AAM operations through many functions that draw on local and regional expertise, and we look forward to partnering with USDOT and the FAA in this effort.”
You can read the full strategy here and the plan here.
For more information: Transportation.gov
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