Foundations of Advanced Air Mobility

The first structured reference covering advanced air mobility from concept to operation

Advanced air mobility lacks a unified academic reference that spans its interdisciplinary scope, from vehicle design to regulatory frameworks. Foundations of Advanced Air Mobility, written by Kevin A. Adkins, an elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and creator of the first U.S. collegiate AAM course, delivers a structured treatment of powered-lift aircraft technologies, air traffic management, vertiport infrastructure, environmental considerations, and market dynamics.

The book moves from foundational AAM concepts through operational and regulatory specifics, covering eVTOL vehicle technologies, the U.S. certification landscape, urban airspace integration challenges, collision avoidance strategies, and vertiport and skyport construction for urban environments. Business models and market trends also receive dedicated analysis alongside ethical considerations, sustainability in AAM operations, and weather impacts on flight operations.

Readers will also find:

• Coverage of infrastructure and regulatory policy including vertiport design, skyport construction, and the U.S. regulatory certification framework
• Analysis of air traffic management challenges in urban environments, including collision avoidance and airspace integration strategies
• Discussion of environmental impacts such as weather effects on operations and the role of AAM in sustainable urban development
• Treatment of business models, market trends, and economic considerations relevant to AAM manufacturers, suppliers, and stakeholders
• Multiple-choice questions in each chapter designed to reinforce key concepts and support classroom or self-directed learning

Designed for upper-level undergraduate students across aviation, engineering, human factors, public policy, and business programs, this book also serves AAM manufacturers, suppliers, government policy makers, analysts, consultants, and academic researchers who need a single authoritative reference spanning the full scope of advanced air mobility.

KEVIN A. ADKINS, PhD, is a Professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and director of the Advanced Air Mobility Research and Innovation Lab (AAMRIL) and Uncrewed Vehicle and Atmospheric Investigation Lab (UNVAIL). An elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he previously served as a United States Air Force officer and pilot and spent over a decade in industry as an aircraft designer and lead flight test engineer. He authored the first U.S. collegiate course on advanced air mobility (AS 437 – Concepts in Advanced Air Mobility).