Based on the different enabler groups and their varying importance, some sectors are more likely to apply AAM for their operations at earlier stages. Already today we see different “sandbox” environments, in which use cases with different degrees of automation are being tested in a confined and regulated space, such as those around drone medical delivery in Africa9 and digital agriculture in India.10 However, so far minimal adoption in the wider day-to-day context has been achieved.Ecosystem stakeholders identify healthcare, logistics for remote areas, and (sub)urban passenger transport as the leading AAM use cases, with benefits manifesting as societal value creation, enhanced operational feasibility or high financial viability. These use cases also show how AAM can impact a wide range of industries and geographies. The following sections provide further insights and outline key pain points, benefits and needs for their deployment.Sectors pioneering AAM3 AAM impact is multifaceted, with its first use cases already benefitting different industries and geographies. Healthcare-related use cases, such as transportation of patients, lab samples, organs or medical inventory, are expected to be commercialized first at a large scale. AAM offers cheaper, faster and better coverage of medical services, potentially enabling real-time medical supplies and inventory sharing between facilities. This can reduce the pressure on constrained healthcare capacity for emerging and developed economies. Therefore, these applications receive substantial public support due to their direct impact on healthcare accessibility and efficiency. At the same time, they make the sector more attractive for entrepreneurship as technology is demonstrably used “for good”. However, scalability, required to offset the high costs of vehicles, infrastructure, new processes and training of personnel, remains a significant challenge for related use cases, putting pressure on financial viability and posing funding challenges for providers. Nevertheless, social benefits can be identified in the short term while economic advantages will likely only materialize in the long term. For example, in case of patient transportation, the economic opportunity varies depending on whether the electrical vertical take-off and landing vehicle is dedicated to replacing helicopter operations or expanded to replace certain ground ambulance activities. For every healthcare-related use case, AAM operations will have to be thoroughly integrated into existing medical processes and systems. This requires specific training for healthcare staff on the new technology to avoid operational disruptions. This will also involve specific regulations for the healthcare system, including the construction of aviation corridors and dedicated airspace integration for operators. Additionally, health insurance providers will need to adapt to evaluate coverage options for these new modes of transport. Medical use cases are paving the way for most other AAM sectors benefitting from its positive societal impact. Emerging economies are likely to roll out these applications on a wider scale first (e.g. India)11 as they have a higher proportion of underserved areas (with underdeveloped infrastructure and medical supply chains). Notwithstanding this, developed countries will also benefit, e.g. in cases of natural catastrophes. 3.1 Healthcare Advanced Air Mobility: Shaping the Future of Aviation 13

Advanced Air Mobility 2024