Advanced air mobility (AAM) is changing how communities prepare for short-distance air travel using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and vertiports. As Florida’s AAM activity accelerates, VHB helped Orange County move early to prepare its policies, staff, and review processes for this emerging mode of new mobility. VHB led the County’s AAM Feasibility Study, using parcel-based GIS analysis to identify subareas with vertiport potential, including targeted evaluation of International Drive and other key County areas of growth and opportunity.
The study translated federal, state, and local requirements into practical guidance on land use compatibility, airspace, permitting, safety, utilities, multimodal integration and public engagement. VHB also equipped planning, engineering, environmental, and fire rescue staff with a GIS viewer and technical resources that help screen sites earlier, coordinate reviews more effectively, and prepare for informed, community-responsive AAM decision-making.
Critically, VHB developed a framework for evaluating potential impacts of AAM on future development air rights, which will reduce the risk of unintentional property taking. VHB will continue to work with the County on tabletop planning exercises and development of an eVTOL noise assessment methodology.
