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The future of flight isn’t just on its way: it already landed in Central Ohio.
I had the chance to see two different examples of advanced air mobility (AAM) development taking shape in our region earlier this month. Both AAM demonstrations – one in the air and the other on a flight simulator – gave me a clearer picture of how this emerging technology could fit into everyday transportation planning.
I joined our partners at The Beta District – a collaboration between governments along the U.S. 33 Smart Mobility Corridor – at The Ohio State University Airport to watch BETA Technologies fly ALIA, an impressively quiet and efficient all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL.
The Beta District connects public and private partners to pilot emerging mobility solutions in real-world settings, making Central Ohio a national proving ground for innovation. At MurphyEpson, we’re proud to help share The Beta District’s story, connect stakeholders and build public understanding for these transformative projects.
The Beta District’s vision for AAM is broad. It ranges from drones assisting first responders and delivering packages or medical supplies to passenger travel on eVTOLs using vertiports. Watching the ALIA take off made it clear that this isn’t just a futuristic idea: the technology is already here and being tested today.
The next day, I joined the City of Dublin – a community known for its forward-thinking approach to mobility and smart city initiatives – for a tour of the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield, Ohio. We visited BETA Technologies’ office, stood atop their vertiport and even cheered on Dublin’s Chief Innovation and Technology Officer Brandon Brown as he tested their flight simulator. The visit also included a stop at the DriveOhio Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center where we learned about The Ohio Department of Transportation’s work using drones for infrastructure inspections, traffic monitoring, emergency response and other applications that help state agencies work more efficiently.
MurphyEpson is currently working with the City of Dublin to create an AAM framework that will help the city prepare for the future of aviation – from passenger travel to drone demonstrations. Our role is to ensure that plans account not only for infrastructure and regulations but also for thoughtful community engagement so that residents and businesses understand and benefit from what’s coming next.
Ohio’s place in aviation history – from the Wright brothers to today’s innovators (who we’re lucky to call our partners) – is well established. These visits were a reminder that the state continues to play a leading role in shaping what comes next. As the AAM industry grows, our work will remain focused on helping communities think ahead, bring the right people to the table and create strategies that make the most of these emerging opportunities.
