David Hughes

Florida aims to become the top user&nbsp;of advanced air mobility (AAM) anywhere, Florida Department of Transportation secretary Jared Perdue told aviation&nbsp;executives last week at the Honeywell American Aviation Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. He described an ambitious initiative to create the aerial network, digital&nbsp;infrastructure, technology, workforce, and policies needed to attract and retain AAM&nbsp;operators.
Perdue said Florida is moving ahead rapidly with drone operations for law enforcement,&nbsp;emergency response, deliveries, and infrastructure inspection. When a hurricane hits, drones&nbsp;can assess the damage immediately for rapid response. EVTOLs are also seen as a major benefit for&nbsp;inner- and intra-city traffic and for relieving road congestion.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently&nbsp;plowed $4 billion in state surplus into transportation infrastructure. The&nbsp;Florida DOT is involving the AAM industry, local government, airports, universities, and other partners&nbsp;in creating a handbook for operations, setting policy and standards, and passing multiple bills in the state legislature.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is using its Daytona Beach research park for AAM&nbsp;to help support the state’s drive to have AAM make a difference in Florida, according to Rodney&nbsp;Cruise, senior v-p and COO at ERAU. Florida DOT also has an air/ground test center.&nbsp;In a Florida DOT promotional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rusgmohA88o">video</a>, a vertiport company leader said the state is “light-years ahead” of others&nbsp;on AAM.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

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News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

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