AutoFlight has completed a public transition flight of its 5 ton class Matrix eVTOL in China. The 10 seat aircraft moves the industry beyond four to six seat designs and pushes Advanced Air Mobility toward higher payloads, cargo operations, and new route economics. We look at what this milestone means for regulators, infrastructure planners, and operators watching the large eVTOL space.
January 2026 delivered pivotal developments shaping advanced air mobility’s future. The FAA announced its largest reorganization in history, creating a dedicated Office of Advanced Aviation Technologies for eVTOLs, drones, and supersonic aircraft. Meanwhile, China’s low-altitude economy deployed 5.29 million operating aircraft with commercial eVTOL services already active. Ohio emerged as America’s AAM manufacturing hub with Joby’s second facility announcement, powered by strategic workforce investment. Drone delivery leader Zipline raised $600 million at a $7.6 billion valuation, surpassing 2 million deliveries while expanding to Houston and Phoenix. This comprehensive roundup explores regulatory maturation, geographic competition, and infrastructure investment driving AAM toward critical tipping points in 2026.
In the largest organizational overhaul in FAA history, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Administrator Bryan Bedford announced a comprehensive restructuring that creates a dedicated Office of Advanced Aviation Technologies for eVTOLs, drones, and supersonic aircraft. The January 27, 2026 announcement elevates advanced air mobility to top-level status alongside traditional aviation operations, signaling that electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are no longer experimental but core to America’s aviation future. With multiple eVTOL manufacturers approaching certification, the eIPP launching in 2026, and the 2028 LA Olympics showcasing urban air mobility, the timing is critical. This analysis explores what the reorganization means for AAM stakeholders, certification timelines, infrastructure development, safety oversight, and the path to commercial operations.
The EU’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan directs nearly €3 billion toward SAF and e‑kerosene. Beyond fuels, it defines the energy and investment environment in which Europe’s Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem will grow.
Five years ago, eVTOLs were ‘coming in 2025.’ Now it’s 2026. Joby, Archer, Vertical race for FAA certs—but energy infrastructure, not airframes, holds the real key.
As electric air mobility takes flight, the US Postal Service eyes electric airplanes for New York-Detroit mail routes. Leaders like BETA Technologies and Electra.aero drive hybrid-electric advances, slashing emissions and unlocking short takeoffs. This 750-word read covers the shift for aviation pros.
Veteran aviation expert Oscar Lara joins The Ways We Move podcast to demystify eVTOL’s future: from blending fixed-wing efficiency with VTOL flexibility, to navigating FAA certification hurdles and building vertiport infrastructure. Essential listen for AAM stakeholders. Watch now: https://youtu.be/HiTHqGd3MFs
Thanks to the eBoat newsletter, Donut Lab’s CES 2026 solid-state battery claims—400 Wh/kg, five-minute full charging, 100,000 cycles—could transform marine EVs by slashing weight and boosting fleet economics. Skepticism warranted, but proof awaits.
AAM security addresses cyber takeover, physical misuse and supply chain risks through FAA guidance and vertiport hardening.
Advanced air mobility shifts from prototypes to operations in 2026. Joby enters FAA test flights, Archer eyes Miami routes, Eve secures US funding, and vertiports face power constraints.