NAAMCE forum to focus on advanced air mobility production

The National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum returns Oct. 15 in Springfield, Ohio, as the sector pushes from flight testing toward certification, manufacturing and routine operations. Electra CEO Marc Allen will keynote the event, which brings together manufacturers, regulators, defense officials, investors and infrastructure providers.

Why it matters: - The U.S. advanced air mobility market is projected to reach $115 billion annually by 2035 and support more than 280,000 jobs. - The industry still has to align certification, manufacturing capacity, airspace integration and workforce development on the same timeline. - The forum is designed to address that production-scale transition, not just aircraft demos.

What happened: - The National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence will host the fifth annual National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum on Oct. 15 at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio. - Registration is open now at registration. - Electra CEO Marc Allen will deliver the keynote address. - The forum will bring together aircraft manufacturers, federal regulators, military leaders, investors and infrastructure providers for a working session.

The details: - NAAMCE said the one-day agenda is built around working sessions rather than podium speeches. - An AAM Defense Fireside Chat will focus on the overlap between advanced air mobility and national security. - Confirmed participants in the fireside chat include Blain Newton of BETA Technologies, Donn Yates of Electra and Sergio Cecutta of SMG Consulting. - A Growing Capabilities panel will cover workforce, manufacturing, supply chain, infrastructure and partnerships. - Three workshop topics are planned, each offered in three sessions. - The workshop topics are Beyond the Prototype, The Digital Enterprise and From Novelty to Normal. - Each workshop session is intended to close with findings presented back to the full forum. - Speakers and participants are planned from BETA Technologies, Joby Aviation, Eve Air Mobility, the Federal Aviation Administration, Civil Air Patrol and others. - The day also will include an exhibition, aircraft simulator time and an evening networking hour.

Between the lines: - NAAMCE is trying to position Springfield as a practical hub for the industry’s next phase, not just a conference venue. - The center says it is the only U.S. site with end-to-end build-test-fly capability through a single coordinated partner network. - Companies working at the center can access the National Airspace System up to 18,000 feet. - The center says companies can conduct long-duration beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations without chase planes, a major flight-test cost and schedule driver. - SkyVision provides real-time airspace awareness for uncrewed and autonomous aircraft in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Ohio UAS Center. - The system covers a 225-square-mile BVLOS range with no aircraft size restrictions. - NAAMCE has 30,000 square feet of laboratory, research and collaboration space, plus 25,000 square feet of hangar space. - Ohio is emerging as a manufacturing base for advanced air mobility, with Joby Aviation and Electra both announcing plans for production facilities in the state. - Hartzell Propeller works directly with companies at the center, and GE Aerospace is investing in electrified flight. - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory and a statewide supplier network add to Ohio’s aerospace footprint.

What’s next: - NAAMIF will anchor NAAMCE Aviation Weekend, a three-day program at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport. - Oct. 16 will be STEM Day for students in grades 6-12, with hands-on stations focused on aircraft discovery, aviation innovation, airport operations and future-of-flight topics. - Educators can inquire at ltima@naamce.com. - Oct. 17 will bring The Great American Electric Air Race, with biplane rides, a free FAA TRUST certificate course, an eVTOL simulator experience, food trucks and live music. - The event has a rain date of Oct. 18, and tickets are available at event page. - Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities remain available at sponsorship information.

The bottom line: - NAAMCE is using the forum to push advanced air mobility past prototypes and into the harder work of certification, production and routine operation.