Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has entered a phase of maturity where the central question is no longer “does it fly?” but rather “how can it be integrated safely, usefully, acceptably, and in an economically viable way?” Several countries that have published credible roadmaps and action plans converge on a simple idea: AAM is not a product, it is a system. A system that must be built through regulatory sequencing, clear governance, prepared infrastructure, and use cases anchored in real needs.

For Canada, the value of examining these examples is not to replicate a formula, but to identify the structural decisions that transform ambition into an executable trajectory. The experiences of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, along with the regulatory convergence initiative led by five civil aviation authorities (including Canada), offer highly concrete lessons.

1. United States: Treating AAM as a Whole-of-Government Initiative

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s plan is particularly instructive. It outlines a coordinated deployment across federal agencies, progressing in stages: starting with operations compatible with existing frameworks, then gradually expanding the envelope as the ecosystem matures (operations, infrastructure, safety, public acceptance, etc.). AAM is approached as a collection of use cases and, above all, as an integration effort involving states and local authorities, actors that are essential when addressing infrastructure, urban planning, energy, and impact management.

For Canada, the lesson is operationally clear: a roadmap that remains centered solely on aviation risks underestimating the real scope of work required. Governance is the key issue. It is necessary to clarify who leads, who co-decides, who executes, and how municipalities and infrastructure stakeholders are integrated into the process. Without such a framework, the result is a patchwork of pilot projects rather than a system taking shape.

2. United Kingdom: Regulatory Discipline Before the Market Narrative

The United Kingdom stands out for its dual-track approach. On one side, the Department for Transport sets out a vision and action plan through its Future of Flight initiative. On the other, the UK Civil Aviation Authority details how eVTOL operations will become possible through a delivery model and a series of milestones, including a target for initial operations by the end of 2028, while simultaneously preparing the BVLOS drone ecosystem for deployment by 2027. The objective is to rely on existing aviation frameworks wherever possible and develop tailored solutions only where necessary.

The lesson is clear: a credible roadmap must demonstrate an understanding of sequencing. First come the safety and operational conditions (operational envelopes, requirements, roles, etc.), followed by the associated policies (licensing, infrastructure, site regulations, energy considerations, etc.), and only then the acceleration toward more frequent and complex operations. AAM is not unlocked by promises of service, but by the ability to demonstrate a logical, coherent regulatory and operational pathway that is transparent to stakeholders.

3. Japan: Public-Interest Use Cases Before Passenger Transport

Japan was among the first countries to publish a “flying car” roadmap in 2018. What stands out is its deliberate choice not to reduce AAM to urban air taxis. The roadmap highlights applications such as logistics, regional mobility, and emergency response, with a progressive trajectory from demonstrations to initial services and longer-term expansion.

For Canada, this represents a major strategic point. If the objective is to move from concept to real-world use, it is often more effective (and more publicly acceptable) to begin with missions that deliver clear public value and dual-use innovation: emergency response, wildfire suppression, inspection of critical infrastructure, specialized logistics in remote or hard-to-access regions, and support for public safety operations. These use cases improve social acceptance, accelerate operational learning, and provide policymakers with a clear justification: AAM is not a luxury, it is a capability.

4. South Korea: Structured Pilots and a National Program Approach

South Korea, through its K-UAM initiative, has positioned itself within a national program framework, with phased progression and a clear connection between demonstrations, operational frameworks, and scaling. The signal is explicit: the sector is not left to organize itself. Instead, deployment corridors, testing environments, partnerships, and market conditions are actively created.

For Canada, this reinforces the value of designating early experimentation zones and priority corridors. A territory such as Mirabel, already structured around a dense aerospace ecosystem, could naturally play such a role. However, the decision is not purely geographic; it is a matter of governance, priorities, performance metrics, and rules of engagement.

5. International Convergence in Certification: A Lever to Integrate

Canada is participating in an international initiative (alongside Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to collaborate on approaches to type certification for AAM aircraft. This is a critical development, as it demonstrates that several authorities are seeking to reduce fragmentation and accelerate cross-border validation while maintaining high safety standards.

For Canada, the implication is direct: the national roadmap must align with these trajectories rather than be designed in isolation. Strategically, this affects the country’s attractiveness as a location for testing, validation, demonstrations, and infrastructure readiness. Canada must therefore articulate how it integrates into a value chain and regulatory framework that are increasingly being built at an international scale.

Cross-Cutting Lessons for a Robust Canadian Roadmap

When these examples are considered side by side, five decisions appear consistently, even though the approaches differ.

First, the need for explicit governance: neither a single lead actor nor an informal coalition is sufficient. A structured architecture for decision-making and coordination among stakeholders is required.

Second, phased deployment: advanced jurisdictions acknowledge that AAM will develop in stages, and that each stage must generate learning and conditions that enable the transition to the next.

Third, the importance of starting with use cases that deliver operational and public value rather than beginning directly with passenger transport, which carries greater risk, expectations, and public acceptance constraints.

Fourth, the preparation of infrastructure and energy systems, which is not a secondary detail but a parallel effort that must begin from the outset.

Finally, the management of social acceptance. Noise pollution, perceived safety, flight paths, equitable access, and urban impacts must be treated as system design considerations, not as a communications exercise at the end of the process.

From International Analysis to Canadian Action

These international roadmaps demonstrate that advanced air mobility does not emerge through announcements or isolated initiatives, but through structured coordination, clear priorities, and rigorous sequencing. It is in this spirit that a strategic workshop on AAM will take place in April in Montreal.

Organized by Innovitech, ADM Aéroports de Montréal, the Centre of Excellence on Drones (CED), Espace Aéro, GUAMobility, and the City of Mirabel, the event will bring together key ecosystem stakeholders to define a concrete trajectory for Canada: prioritizing use cases, identifying strategic infrastructure, clarifying governance models, and aligning with the federal regulatory framework.

The objective is clear: to move from ambition to execution and position Canada as a structured environment ready to integrate advanced air mobility in a safe, progressive, and coordinated manner.

References

U.S. Department of Transportation – Advanced Air Mobility Comprehensive Plan (2025) – https://www.transportation.gov/aam-plan

UK Department for Transport – Future of Flight Action Plan (18 March 2024) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-flight-action-plan

UK Civil Aviation Authority – Enabling Advanced Air Mobility (programme + eVTOL delivery work) – https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/research-and-innovation/enabling-advanced-air-mobility/

Japan METI – “Flying Car” / UAM Roadmap (page de référence) – https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/robot/181220uamroadmap.html

South Korea – MOLIT / Smart City Korea – annonce du “K-UAM Roadmap” – https://aam-cms.marqui.tech/uploads/aam-portal-cms/originals/c1a9254d-d379-47f8-b4dd-24ac3447866f.pdf

Australia CASA – Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft type certification (17 June 2025) – https://www.casa.gov.au/resources-and-education/publications-and-resources/corporate-publications/roadmap-aam-aircraft-type-certification

About the Partners

ADM Aéroports de Montréal

The airport authority of Greater Montréal, ADM Aéroports de Montréal is responsible for the management, operation, and development of YUL Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and YMX International Aerocity of Mirabel.

Centre d’excellence sur les drones (CED)

The CED is a community-of-interest and non-profit organization dedicated to the development, management, and promotion of services, expertise, and competencies related to the drone sector.

Espace Aéro

Espace Aéro is the economic development and attractiveness hub of the Greater Montréal aerospace cluster. Its mission is to support the growth, competitiveness, and transformation of the aerospace industry.

GUAMobility

GUAMobility is an international platform dedicated to the development and structuring of Advanced Air Mobility ecosystems, with recognized expertise in complex environments and institutionally driven projects.

Innovitech

Innovitech is a strategy and innovation consulting firm specialized in the design and implementation of innovation, transformation, and socio-economic development strategies.

Ville de Mirabel

The City of Mirabel holds a strategic position at the heart of Québec’s aerospace ecosystem, notably through the presence of Montréal–Mirabel International Airport and significant industrial and innovation infrastructure.

Références

U.S. Department of Transportation – Advanced Air Mobility Comprehensive Plan (2025) – https://www.transportation.gov/aam-plan

UK Department for Transport – Future of Flight Action Plan (18 March 2024) – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-flight-action-plan

UK Civil Aviation Authority – Enabling Advanced Air Mobility (programme + eVTOL delivery work) – https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/research-and-innovation/enabling-advanced-air-mobility/

Japan METI – “Flying Car” / UAM Roadmap (page de référence) – https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/robot/181220uamroadmap.html

South Korea – MOLIT / Smart City Korea – annonce du “K-UAM Roadmap” – https://aam-cms.marqui.tech/uploads/aam-portal-cms/originals/c1a9254d-d379-47f8-b4dd-24ac3447866f.pdf

Australia CASA – Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility aircraft type certification (17 June 2025) – https://www.casa.gov.au/resources-and-education/publications-and-resources/corporate-publications/roadmap-aam-aircraft-type-certification

Advanced Air Mobility: International Lessons to Structure Canada’s Trajectory