Learning from real-world drone deployments3 Real-world drone projects show the importance of low-cost technology and can inform and benefit the wider AAM industry. Beyond the differing priorities of stakeholders, hands-on experience is invaluable: real-world deployments are proving essential for the advancement of the emerging AAM industry. To date, most early deployments have focused on drone operations, particularly in logistics and healthcare, where initiatives are moving from pilot projects to larger-scale, routine operations. As a result, drones serve as a practical proxy for the broader AAM sector, offering critical lessons and operational insights that can inform the development and deployment of other AAM vehicles. This makes drones a natural starting point for extracting actionable learnings to support the wider implementation of AAM solutions. Despite the diversity in size, mission and technological complexity, drones and other AAM vehicles face many of the same foundational challenges, such as securing regulatory approvals, integrating into airspace, building the necessary infrastructure and earning public trust. These are not just technical or operational challenges, they are systemic enablers, and they are just as critical for the successful deployment of passenger-carrying vehicles. Drone applications have already demonstrated the viability of scaled aerial operations through real- world use cases. These deployments have provided important cross-cutting lessons across three critical dimensions: operational feasibility, financial viability and social acceptance. Table 1 summarizes key lessons learned from drone operations that are transferable to larger aircraft, and the rationale for their transferability. All lessons are the result of analysis of real-world deployments. Thus, the value is two-fold: first, they offer guidance to support the expansion of drone operations; and second, they contribute to advancing and speeding up the development and integration of larger AAM vehicles. Advanced Air Mobility: Paving the Way to Responsible Implementation 14

Advanced Air Mobility 2025