Cleared for Takeoff: Advanced Air Mobility in a Shared Sky

The airspace over the United States is entering an era of unprecedented complexity. The current system manages approximately 45,000 daily flights serving more than 800 million passengers annually, a figure expected to grow to 1.2 billion by 2045. This traditional air traffic will soon be integrated with emerging technologies, including supersonic jets and the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) initiative.

AAM represents a new transportation ecosystem, utilizing everything from drone delivery services and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis to regional air vehicles, all designed to increase access to areas underserved by the current aviation industry. Adding a vertical dimension to this crowded environment, space operations are also increasing dramatically, with launches projected to rise from 148 in 2024 to 338 by 2028.
This convergence of diverse air and space traffic gives new meaning to the concept of “shared airspace.” This presentation will analyze current and future operations, highlight the critical need for enhanced coordination, and discuss how rapidly developing Artificial Intelligence could be pivotal in prioritizing and managing airspace access among all stakeholders.

Speaker: Jaewoo Jung, NASA Ames

Register at weblink. Options include refreshments (pizza, sandwiches, drinks), $15 General, $12 Members, $9 Students