LYNEports Community

United Arab Emirates is not just building a transport system, it is architecting the future of urban connectivity through its expansive vertiport network. Imagine this system as the meticulously planned circulatory system of a next-generation smart city. It uses air taxis and drones to weave together key urban centers like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, offering seamless, high-speed mobility. This ambitious project transcends mere convenience for travelers, it's about pioneering an integrated ecosystem where package delivery, emergency response, and daily commutes are efficiently embedded into the fundamental structure of city life. The UAE, with its characteristic forward-thinking approach, is essentially constructing the foundation of a global Urban Air Mobility (UAM).

We talk a lot about integrating drones and AAM into our airspace, but honestly, the bigger challenge isn’t just in the sky, it’s on the ground.

Yes, low-altitude corridors are being studied and discussed, and technically, it's doable. But if we don’t start planning from a city and urban infrastructure level, these technologies will stay stuck in pilot mode. No amount of airspace modeling will matter if we don’t have the right places for these aircraft to safely land, charge, or serve people in a meaningful way.

This isn’t just about solving today's logistics. It’s about asking:

- Where do these aircraft actually make sense in a city?

- What locations are safe, accessible, and actually improve life for people nearby?

- How do we future-proof those choices for the next 30 to 50 years?

The shift toward electric aviation is happening, but it’s not something the government is forcing, it’s market driven. The role of government here is to support infrastructure and set policy, not to dictate timelines. Right now, most electric aircraft are still in the experimental phase. Wider adoption will depend on FAA certification, and once that happens, we’ll see more of them in operation.

For now, the focus is on preparing airports and local communities. That means updating zoning rules, working with airports to install charging stations, and addressing concerns from stakeholders. One big challenge is that airports make a significant portion of their

revenue from fuel sales and hangar rentals. If electric aircraft reduce fuel demand, some airports are hesitant to embrace charging infrastructure unless they can replace that income.

The solution? Similar to how airports charge fees for fuel flowage, they can apply a similar model to electricity. That…

One of the more complex challenges in Advanced Air Mobility is how vertiports will integrate into controlled airspace, especially in Class C environments where conventional traffic, sequencing, and communications are tightly managed.

Many conventional instrument procedures may not align well with the performance profiles and operational needs of eVTOL aircraft. A typical ILS approach might be 10–12 miles long, eating up 10 to 15 minutes of flight time. When your total electric range is just 100 miles, that’s a significant operational cost.

Instead, emerging approaches are being designed around the unique capabilities of eVTOLs steeper descent profiles (typically 4–6°, with some experimental cases reaching 7–9°) and much shorter approach paths, often just 3 to 4 miles in length. These procedures allow for more compact, urban friendly arrival corridors.

It raises the bigger question: If you were designing airspace from the ground up, how would you structure it to support eVTOL…

As drone operations grow, I believe the way we think about landing infrastructure will need to shift quickly. We’re heading toward a future where drone pads are modular, compact, and easy to transport; designed for rapid deployment on rooftops, parking lots, or temporary urban sites.

But this flexibility doesn’t remove the need for oversight. Each location still needs to be checked against existing airspace restrictions, local regulations, and safety requirements. In my view, cities and operators will need smarter tools that can speed up approvals, automate checks, and map out compliant flight corridors on the fly.

It’s an exciting space where urban mobility, tech, and regulation intersect.

What do you think is the biggest bottleneck to making this vision a reality?

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…