We Have Existing Aviation Infrastructure

Leverage Existing Assets for Future Growth

Airports, heliports, industrial sites, and transportation hubs may serve as important foundations for future AAM activity. Explore resources that help communities evaluate existing infrastructure, modernization opportunities, utility requirements, and integration strategies that support emerging aviation technologies.

An experimental electric aircraft, made by Beta Technologies, flying with the Utah red rocks, covered in snow, in the background.

Doorway Brief: We Have Existing Aviation Infrastructure

Why You Might Be Here

You may represent a community that already has an airport, heliport, hospital heliport, aviation business, drone operation, or other aviation-related asset and want to understand how those facilities may fit into future aviation opportunities.

In many cases, communities are further along than they realize. Existing aviation infrastructure often provides a foundation for future transportation, economic development, emergency response, logistics, or Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) opportunities.

This doorway is intended to help communities understand existing assets, identify opportunities, and strengthen the foundation for future decision-making.

Start with Existing Assets

Many communities already possess infrastructure that may support future aviation activity.

Examples include:

Public-use airports
Private airports
Hospital heliports
Public safety heliports
Utility or industrial aviation facilities
Agricultural aviation facilities
Existing drone operations
Aviation-related businesses
Emergency medical transportation services

These facilities often include established airspace procedures, emergency response relationships, utility connections, trained personnel, operational experience, and community familiarity with aviation activity.

Communities should begin by understanding what aviation assets already exist and how they are currently used.

Existing Infrastructure Creates Opportunities

Future aviation activity will not always require entirely new facilities.

In some cases, existing airports may support electric aircraft operations, cargo services, infrastructure inspection activities, emergency response missions, or regional air mobility services.

Existing heliports may support future medical transportation capabilities, powered-lift operations, or other emerging aviation services.

Even facilities that are not currently pursuing capital improvements may benefit from understanding how emerging technologies could affect future operations, infrastructure needs, emergency planning, or economic development opportunities.

The first opportunity is often understanding existing assets before pursuing new ones.

Strengthening the Foundation

One of the most valuable investments a community can make is ensuring that existing policies, ordinances, permits, and planning documents remain aligned with community goals and current aviation realities.

Examples may include:

Reviewing aviation-related definitions.
Reviewing airport or heliport overlay districts.
Evaluating conditional use permits.
Reviewing development agreements.
Confirming emergency access requirements.
Reviewing airport compatibility policies.
Updating emergency response plans.
Evaluating utility readiness and future electrical needs.

These activities can improve readiness regardless of whether a community ultimately pursues new aviation projects.

Well-maintained policies and procedures help communities evaluate future opportunities more efficiently when they arise.

Modernization and Readiness

Many aviation facilities periodically undergo modernization projects. Examples may include:

Electrical upgrades
Pavement improvements
Lighting improvements
Communications upgrades
Emergency access improvements
Utility coordination
Facility rehabilitation

Communities may find that future aviation opportunities can be incorporated into existing planning and modernization efforts rather than treated as entirely separate projects.

This approach can reduce cost, improve flexibility, and support long-term planning objectives.

Recommended Next Steps

If your community already has aviation infrastructure, consider reviewing:

Infrastructure, Land Use, and Place

To better understand airports, heliports, vertiports, drone facilities, compatibility planning, and infrastructure considerations.

Governance, Roles, Authority, and Coordination

To understand the responsibilities of local governments, airport sponsors, operators, state agencies, and federal agencies.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Guide

To evaluate emergency response planning, facility access, training, and preparedness considerations.

Environmental and Noise Mitigation Strategies

To understand compatibility planning, noise considerations, environmental review, and community expectations.

Economic Development and Readiness

To explore how existing aviation assets may support future economic development opportunities.

Questions to Consider

What aviation assets already exist in our community?
How are those assets currently being used?
Are existing policies and ordinances aligned with community goals?
Are permit conditions clear, measurable, and practical to administer?
Are emergency response plans current?
Are utility systems capable of supporting future modernization?
Are there opportunities to incorporate aviation considerations into planned capital improvements?
What transportation, economic development, or public safety opportunities could existing infrastructure support?
Which sections of the toolkit are most relevant to our situation?

Communities do not need to wait for a proposal or major project to begin preparing. Understanding and strengthening existing aviation assets can improve readiness, flexibility, and decision-making regardless of what future opportunities emerge.

Infrastructure, Land Use, and Place: This resource explores how AAM infrastructure fits within the broader community context, including transportation networks, land use patterns, utility systems, economic development goals, and public spaces. It helps communities evaluate where and how aviation infrastructure can be integrated to support connectivity, accessibility, and long-term community planning objectives.

Infrastructure, Land Use, and Place

Governance, Roles, Authority, and Coordination: This resource explains how responsibilities for AAM are shared across federal, state, and local agencies, airport sponsors, operators, and other stakeholders. It helps communities understand governance frameworks, regulatory authorities, and coordination requirements related to aircraft, operations, airspace, infrastructure, and community planning.

Governance, Roles, Authority, and Coordination

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Guide: This guide helps communities evaluate public safety, emergency response, and preparedness considerations associated with AAM infrastructure and operations. It provides guidance on stakeholder coordination, emergency planning, responder readiness, facility access, and risk management to support safe and effective integration of emerging aviation technologies.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Guide

Environmental and Noise Mitigation Strategies: This resource provides guidance on environmental compatibility, noise considerations, and mitigation strategies associated with airports, vertiports, drone facilities, and other aviation infrastructure. Explore potential impacts, evaluate planning considerations, and identify proactive approaches that support compatibility with surrounding land uses.

Environmental and Noise Mitigation Strategies

Economic Development and Readiness: This resource explores how communities can evaluate the economic opportunities, infrastructure needs, workforce considerations, and partnerships that may support future AAM activity. It provides guidance on assessing local readiness, identifying potential benefits, and aligning AAM opportunities with broader economic development and transportation goals.

Economic Development and Readiness

AAM Laws Directory: Explore a curated directory of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and guidance documents relevant to Advanced Air Mobility. Use these resources to better understand the legal and regulatory landscape shaping AAM planning, infrastructure, and operations.

Law Directory

Resource Directory: Explore a curated directory of reports, studies, guidance documents, and industry resources organized by key AAM topics. Use these materials to deepen your understanding of infrastructure, planning, governance, operations, community engagement, market development, and other considerations related to Advanced Air Mobility.

Resource Directory

Master Term Register: Explore a comprehensive glossary of Advanced Air Mobility terminology, acronyms, and industry definitions. Use this resource to better understand the technical, operational, planning, and regulatory language commonly used throughout the AAM ecosystem.

Master Term Register