We stand at the threshold of a new era in global transportation. Advanced Air Mobility — with its new generation of electric aircraft — has been called the future of aviation. But let us be clear: aircraft alone will not deliver that future.
If we focus only on building vehicles, we risk repeating history. Helicopters have been flying for decades, yet they remain a service for the few — limited by cost and by the scarcity of places to land and take off. Without a new way of thinking about infrastructure, eVTOLs will simply become “helicopters with batteries” — an elite experience, not a public benefit.
That cannot be our vision.
The true revolution is not just in the aircraft, but in the network of vertiports that can connect every community.
And here is the good news: we now have the tools to make this possible. Prefabricated, modular “kit-of-parts” vertistops — inexpensive to produce, quick to install, and scalable to any location. They can be placed where people live, work, study, and heal: at hospitals, universities, resorts, business parks, and neighborhoods. Some can even be mobile, moving seasonally or as demand requires.
This approach is not about falling backward into the way aviation has always been done — with massive, expensive facilities accessible only at airports. It is about building something beautiful, accessible, and inclusive. Modular doesn’t have to mean bland. These vertistops can be iconic — designed to reflect the culture and identity of each community while serving a vital new function.
Think about what this means:
– A family in Miami can step off a plane and be at their hotel or cruise ship in minutes, not hours.
– A patient in rural North Carolina can reach emergency care through an eVTOL EMS service based at a nearby hospital.
– A commuter in Los Angeles can bypass endless gridlock and arrive at work in 10 minutes instead of 90.
– A tourist in Hawaii can reach their resort or national park seamlessly, with a breathtaking view along the way.
This is not science fiction. It is within our grasp. But only if we shift the debate.
If we treat AAM as an OEM-driven technology showcase, we will get isolated services for the wealthy. If instead we invest in networks of modular, intelligent vertiports, we will unlock a new layer of mobility for all Americans — as transformational as the Interstate Highway System, as democratizing as the cell phone revolution.
We must choose wisely.
This is our moment to make AAM not a luxury, but a legacy. Not just a vehicle for a few, but a network for everyone. Not an experiment, but a true Transportation Revolution for All.
Thank you.
Our Position
Advanced Air Mobility: From Luxury to a Transportation Revolution for All
1. The Risk of Repetition
– Without infrastructure, eVTOLs will be “helicopters with batteries” — expensive, limited, elite.
– History shows this path fails: helicopters never scaled because landing/charging sites were scarce and costs were high.
2. The Transformational Opportunity
– Prefabricated, modular vertistops and vertiports can be built inexpensively, quickly, and beautifully.
– Modular “kit-of-parts” design achieves economies of scale and allows rapid deployment nationwide.
– Facilities can be iconic and human-centric, placed at airports, hotels, resorts, cruise ports, hospitals, universities, and communities.
– Some units can even be mobile, moving seasonally or by demand.
3. The Human Impact
– Travelers: Seamless transfers from airports to resorts, cruise lines, or downtown in minutes.
– Commuters: Cut daily travel times from hours to minutes.
– Patients: Rapid access to emergency care via eVTOL EMS.
– Tourists: Direct, scenic access to destinations.
– Communities: Localized vertistops create equity and accessibility, not just premium services.
Call to Action
Aircraft alone do not create revolutions — networks do.
We must invest in modular, intelligent, inclusive vertiport networks today to ensure AAM delivers on its promise. With smart infrastructure, AAM can become the Interstate Highway System of the 21st century — a true Transportation Revolution for Everyone.
We design NETWORKS at Gilmore Group.