LYNEports Community

Florida is officially positioning itself as a future leader in Advanced Air Mobility. As of July 1, 2025, Senate Bill 1662 empowers the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to invest in vertiport construction, enabling both public and private projects to access state support and funding.

The bill expands the legal definition of airports to include vertiports and vertistops, opening the door for new infrastructure aligned with the needs of eVTOL aircraft and AAM operations. It also authorizes FDOT to fund up to 100% of capital improvement costs under its strategic airport investment initiative.

Developers should note that vertiport planning in Florida will require coordination across local zoning, state aviation site approvals, and federal FAA compliance, especially with upcoming performance-based design guidance due by the end of 2025.

This is a big win for AAM and urban mobility. With the right tools, like LYNEports, stakeholders can streamline site selection, compliance mapping,…

I’ve always believed that airports, heliports, and vertiports aren’t just transportation hubs, they’re real estate assets that influence how our cities grow and function.

These sites sit at the intersection of land use, mobility, and investment. Their location, size, access, zoning, and noise footprint impact surrounding property values, urban development, and public acceptance. With advanced air mobility on the rise, every vertiport or heliport we plan isn’t just about where aircraft can land, it’s about how that site fits into a city’s fabric.

Planning these sites means thinking about more than regulations and aircraft specs. We also need to consider real estate strategy, multi-modal access, community integration, and long-term value. That’s why LYNEports was built, to help make those connections easier, faster, and more data-driven.

Would love to hear how others in the community are thinking about the land and location aspects of AAM planning.

Joby Aviation completed the region’s first-ever piloted eVTOL test flight in Dubai, in collaboration with the RTA and UAE aviation authorities. Just days later, Archer took to the skies in Abu Dhabi, testing performance under the UAE’s unique climate conditions.

These milestone flights mark a bold step toward making electric air taxis a reality in the region. The UAE continues to position itself as a global leader in advanced aviation, sustainability, and innovation.

Exciting times ahead for our skies!

A new Executive Order was issued this June that sets the stage for electric air taxis to finally take off—literally. It creates the eVTOL Integration Pilot Program, or eIPP, aimed at helping eVTOL aircraft safely operate in real conditions. Only five pilot projects will be selected, so states that already have regulations, infrastructure plans, or public-private partnerships in place will likely have the upper hand.

Companies like Joby, Archer, and Beta are already deep into FAA certification. With this push, we’re moving from hype to implementation. The dream of flying cars and urban air travel is no longer just a concept—it’s starting to look real.

It’s a huge moment, especially for anyone building the infrastructure or digital tools that will help these systems operate at scale.

Existing heliports infrastructure can be strategically upgraded to serve dual purposes, accommodating traditional helicopters while preparing for eVTOLs.

This transition represents more than just technological advancement, it's a practical approach to enhancing asset value. The conversion process requires relatively modest investment compared to new construction, yet delivers significant benefits, from increased property valuation to new revenue opportunities.

Major markets are already adapting their infrastructure, recognizing that early adoption positions properties as future mobility hubs. The time to evaluate portfolios and engage with operators is now, before the shift becomes a competitive necessity rather than a strategic advantage.

For commercial real estate professionals, this isn't about speculation, it's about recognizing an emerging asset class that bridges today's needs with tomorrow's transportation ecosystem.

What factors are you considering in your evaluation of this emerging asset class?

When I read the latest executive orders in the US, it was a strong reminder of why we started LYNEports in the first place. We always believed this shift was coming that drones, eVTOLs, and advanced air mobility would become part of everyday life. And now, it’s finally happening.

The skies are opening. The regulations are starting to move. Beyond visual line of sight drone flights, eVTOL testing for cargo, passengers, emergency response, we’re watching this industry step into reality.

But here’s the real piece: the business models for these aircraft depend on how many can actually operate in real environments. ROI won’t come from just having certified aircraft. It comes from how many flights, how many landings, how many routes cities can safely support. That requires smart infrastructure planning today where vertiports go, how airspace corridors are designed, how cities integrate this into their existing urban fabric.

That’s exactly…

My personal take on early infrastructure planning for AAM is that every time I see AAM (advanced air mobility) aircraft like EHang flying A-to-A, people ask why we need to start planning infrastructure so early if true A-to-B flights are not even allowed yet.

For me, this is exactly the moment when planning matters most.

A-to-A flights are typically closed-loop demo or tourist flights, where the aircraft takes off and lands at the same location. They require limited airspace coordination and minimal ground infrastructure. But A-to-B flights are a different game. They involve multiple takeoff and landing sites, real passenger transport, defined routes, airspace corridors, traffic separation, and fully operational vertiport networks.

Real estate does not wait. If we do not identify and protect potential vertiport sites now, we risk losing valuable locations to other developments. Once a city is fully built, finding suitable sites for safe, efficient A-to-B operations…