The eVTOL Insights Podcast

In this episode of the eVTOL Insights Podcast, Jason Pritchard speaks with Laurie McKnight, Senior Research Manager at Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, about bringing advanced air mobility to rural communities. Drawing on research covering 37 airports across 36 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina, McKnight explores how electric aviation could improve connectivity, support local businesses and strengthen emergency response across Appalachia. She explains why community priorities must shape development, highlighting opportunities ranging from medical deliveries and disaster relief to tourism and pilot training. The conversation also examines the infrastructure gaps holding smaller airports back, particularly inadequate electrical capacity, alongside the need for investment in workforce development and public awareness. McKnight outlines ambitions for further research into electric aircraft training and its potential cost savings, sharing how the project’s findings could help rural communities worldwide prepare for aviation’s next chapter and capture its economic benefits.

In this episode of the eVTOL Insights Podcast, Jason Pritchard speaks to Elham Boozarjomehri, Founder and CEO of Grey Jay, about making Advanced Air Mobility accessible, affordable and responsive to community needs. Drawing on her experience in aerospace engineering and transport planning, Elham explains how the Canadian nonprofit helps communities shape their low altitude economies through consultancy and digital tools. We explore research into integrating eVTOL aircraft into Metro Vancouver’s public transport network, alongside opportunities to improve access to food, healthcare and employment for remote communities. Elham also discusses Grey Jay’s work with Montana First Nation to develop a drone service, highlighting how Indigenous knowledge can inform applications such as forest monitoring and recovery after wildfires. The conversation examines community engagement, public investment and the importance of incorporating local requirements into aircraft design, before looking ahead to Grey Jay’s ambitions for planning tools and services that communities can design and operate.

In this episode of the eVTOL Insights Podcast, Jason Pritchard speaks with Melissa Rank, Aviation Market Leader and Programme Director at SAM, about the foundations needed to support advanced air mobility. Drawing on her experience in geospatial technology and aviation, Melissa explains why closer collaboration with critical infrastructure owners is essential as drone operations expand into low-altitude airspace. She discusses her engagement with the rail industry and highlights the distinction between organisations operating drones themselves and preparing for third-party flights around their assets. The conversation explores how accurate mapping, current data and shared operational awareness can support safer integration, alongside the risks of developing aviation rules without sufficient engagement beyond the sector. Melissa also considers emerging applications, from disaster response to connecting remote communities, and shares a clear message: scaling AAM requires strong infrastructure, public trust and early dialogue with the industries and communities that will share its operating environment.

In this episode of the eVTOL Insights Podcast, we speak with Ted Angel, Executive Director of the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE), ahead of the National Advanced Air Mobility Industry Forum in Springfield, Ohio, on October 15. Ted explains how the forum has evolved to address the challenges of moving from aircraft demonstrations to production and everyday operations. We explore its interactive workshops, covering infrastructure, digital systems and community engagement, alongside discussions on the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, defence applications and workforce development. He also shares updates from NAAMCE, including Electra’s planned manufacturing presence and how the facility helps companies build, test and fly in one location. The conversation concludes with a look at the accompanying STEM Day and Great American Electric Air Race, highlighting why inspiring future talent and building public trust are essential to the next chapter of Advanced Air Mobility in Ohio.

What can drones teach us about the future of Advanced Air Mobility? In this episode of the Women in AAM Podcast, Miriam McNabb joins chairperson Marilyn Pearson to explore the opportunities, challenges and practical benefits shaping aviation’s next chapter. From inspecting hazardous infrastructure to delivering lifesaving medical supplies, Miriam explains why the industry’s value extends far beyond takeaway deliveries. The conversation examines the complexities of building resilient US supply chains, including battery components, rare earth materials and manufacturing expertise. Miriam also shares her optimism about regulatory progress, highlighting how flight trials and operational data can support safe integration. Together, they discuss the complementary roles of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, alongside the information sharing needed to accommodate increasingly diverse airspace users. Offering a grounded perspective on an evolving sector, this episode explores why progress takes time—and why drones and AAM deserve greater recognition for the everyday benefits they can ultimately deliver.