Helping our region understand AAM and why the rapidly evolving sector is so important
By Tahra Goraya, President & CEO of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and Lavera Alexander, Chief Growth Officer and CAAMCI Director
(April 28, 2026 — Marina) — Let’s be honest: advanced air mobility can sound complicated. The industry is full of acronyms, technical language, and insider shorthand that can make it feel inaccessible to anyone outside the field.
AAM. eVTOL. UAS. OEM. CAAMCI.
To many people, it sounds like alphabet soup. But beneath the jargon is something much simpler — and far more important.
At its core, advanced air mobility is about the future of transportation, public safety, economic opportunity, and domestic innovation. It is about how we move people and goods more efficiently, respond faster in emergencies, strengthen manufacturing, and create high-quality jobs in regions ready to lead.
That future is no longer hypothetical. It is already taking shape here in California.
For years, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and regional partners have worked to position the Central Coast at the forefront of this emerging industry. What began as a regional opportunity identified through the Regions Rise Together initiative and later advanced through Uplift Central Coast has grown into one of California’s most promising innovation strategies.
What Is Advanced Air Mobility?
Advanced air mobility is the next generation of aviation. It includes new aircraft systems and supporting technologies designed to operate more safely, efficiently, and sustainably. These include:
● Drones used for logistics, inspection, agriculture, and emergency response
● Electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can rise and land vertically
● Hybrid-electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft
● Highly automated systems that improve safety and efficiency
In short, it is not one product. It is an entirely new sector of the economy.
Why It Matters
This industry is already reshaping daily life. Advanced aviation technologies help inspect infrastructure, fight wildfires, support law enforcement, deliver medical supplies, improve agriculture, and expand transportation options.
Soon, passenger services will follow in select markets, allowing people to move more quickly through congested regions while reducing emissions and relieving pressure on roads.
But the biggest opportunity may be economic.
Advanced air mobility is generating demand for engineers, technicians, pilots, mechanics, software specialists, planners, attorneys, construction trades, and operations staff. Many of these careers offer strong wages and multiple pathways to entry, including certifications and technical training rather than only four-year degrees.
Why the Central Coast Has an Advantage
The Monterey Bay region is uniquely positioned to lead. It offers innovation assets, diverse terrain, public-use airports, research institutions, and one of the highest concentrations of advanced aviation companies in the nation. Companies such as Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, Wisk Aero, Reliable Robotics, and others have helped make California a center of gravity for the sector.
But regional advantage does not become regional strategy on its own. Through its leadership in regional economic planning and as a convener of Uplift Central Coast, Monterey Bay Economic Partnership helped identify advanced air mobility as a high-growth opportunity for the Central Coast and elevate it as part of a broader strategy for innovation, job creation, and economic resilience.
That planning work helped turn a promising industry cluster into an actionable regional strategy. The State of California’s $7.45 million award to Monterey Bay Economic Partnership for the California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative builds on that foundation — supporting a coordinated effort to connect public-use general aviation airports into an operating network that can advance real-world testing, prepare new technologies for everyday use, and drive long-term economic growth.
Why Public Understanding Matters
New industries succeed when the public understands them. That means moving beyond jargon and explaining, in practical terms, how innovation improves lives.
People do not need to memorize acronyms to recognize the value of faster emergency response, safer infrastructure inspections, cleaner aircraft, or better jobs. They simply need to see how these technologies can serve communities.
That is why public education matters. And that is why California should lean into this moment. The future of aviation is being built now. The question is not whether it is coming — it is whether we will be ready to lead.
Sidebar: Making Sense of the Alphabet Soup
From how to pronounce CAAMCI to understanding what an eVTOL actually is, the language of advanced aviation can feel overwhelming at first. Like many emerging industries, advanced air mobility has developed its own shorthand — acronyms and technical terms used by regulators, manufacturers, airports, and policymakers.
The ideas behind the terminology are easier to understand than they may seem. This glossary breaks down some of the most common terms shaping the future of flight.
AAM (Advanced Air Mobility)
A broad term for the next generation of aviation systems designed to move people and goods more safely, efficiently, and sustainably. It includes new aircraft, supporting infrastructure, airspace integration, and advanced technologies such as automation and electric propulsion.
Drone
A commonly used public term for a remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft. Many drones are small, but the category ranges from consumer devices to sophisticated commercial and public safety aircraft.
UAS (Uncrewed or Unmanned Aircraft Systems)
The formal term for drones. UAS includes not only the aircraft itself, but also the communications systems, software, sensors, and operators that make flight possible. These systems are already used in agriculture, emergency response, infrastructure inspection, mapping, and package delivery.
eVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Aircraft)
Pronounced “ee-vee-tall.” These aircraft use electric propulsion and can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, while flying more like an airplane once airborne. Many are being designed for passenger transportation, medical missions, and regional mobility.
Vertiport
A takeoff and landing site designed for eVTOL aircraft. Similar to a heliport, vertiports may include passenger areas, charging systems, safety zones, and connections to ground transportation.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
A company that designs and manufactures aircraft, engines, batteries, avionics, or other major systems. In the AAM sector, OEMs are the companies building the aircraft that will power the industry’s growth.
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
The federal agency responsible for regulating civil aviation in the United States. The FAA oversees aircraft certification, pilot standards, airport safety, and the rules required to safely integrate new aircraft into the national airspace.
NAS (National Airspace System)
The complete U.S. aviation ecosystem managed by the FAA, including airports, air traffic control systems, aircraft operations, navigation systems, and safety regulations. New AAM technologies must integrate into the NAS to operate at scale.
Certification
The rigorous regulatory process used to confirm that an aircraft, component, operator, or system meets required safety standards. Certification is one of the most important milestones for new aircraft entering commercial service.
Autonomy
The ability of an aircraft or system to perform some functions automatically using software, sensors, and onboard computing. Autonomy can range from automated flight assistance to fully self-directed operations, depending on regulations and mission type.
Advanced Propulsion
New forms of aircraft power beyond traditional combustion engines. This includes battery-electric, hybrid-electric, and hydrogen-based propulsion systems intended to reduce emissions, noise, and operating costs.
CAAMCI (California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative)
Pronounced “KAM-see.” A California-funded initiative led by Monterey Bay Economic Partnership to establish a connected network of public airports on the Central Coast. The initiative is designed to support the preparation of new technologies for real-world use, infrastructure planning, data collection, and long-term economic growth.
Corridor Network
A connected set of airports and operating routes designed to support coordinated flight activity rather than isolated single-airport demonstrations. Corridor models help test how advanced aircraft can operate in real-world regional environments.
General Aviation Airport
A public-use airport that primarily serves private, business, training, emergency, and specialized aviation activity rather than scheduled commercial airline traffic. Many general aviation airports are expected to play a major role in advanced air mobility.
FBO (Fixed-Base Operator)
A business located at an airport that provides aviation services such as fueling, charging, maintenance, hangar space, parking, rentals, and flight support. FBOs are likely to be important service providers in future AAM ecosystems.
Commercialization
The process of moving a new technology from development and testing into regular market use. In aviation, commercialization depends on certification, infrastructure, public trust, financing, and sustainable business models.
Why This Matters
Understanding the language matters because these technologies are no longer theoretical. They are already influencing public safety, logistics, workforce development, manufacturing, and transportation planning. The more communities understand the terms, the better prepared they will be to shape how this industry grows.
To learn more about MBEP’s work to strengthen regional economic development through CAAMCI and related initiatives, visit mbep.biz.
Tahra Goraya is President & CEO of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP). She has spent the past two decades working on numerous issues to forge solutions and lead change. Known as a bridge builder, she is an experienced leader who has worked on diverse issue areas across multiple sectors, including nonprofit management, business, and government.
Lavera Alexander is Chief Growth Officer of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) and lead for the California Advanced Air Mobility Corridors Initiative (CAAMCI), overseeing the team guiding the development of California’s first FAA-compliant, multi-airport flight corridor network connecting four rural Central Coast airports. She is an experienced executive with more than two decades of leadership advancing cross-sector collaboration and transformative impact within the nonprofit sector.
About Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP): Monterey Bay Economic Partnership (MBEP) is a regional member-supported nonprofit organization consisting of public, private, and civic entities located throughout the counties of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz. Founded in 2015, our mission is to improve the economic health and quality of life in the region.
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