Electra announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Smart Airspace Program to design and implement the first low-cost instrument flight rules (IFR) network for the Ultra Short and other AAM aircraft with FAA-certified access points.
Almost all commercial aviation services operate under IFR for reliability, predictability and safety, but current IFR arrival and departure procedures were not created with AAM aircraft in mind. Electra claims the lack of AAM-specific procedures could lead to challenges when AAM aircraft are used commercially, such as unsustainable airport congestion and reduced time savings for passengers.
The program plans to keep AAM traffic separate from conventional flights, and enable more direct routing. Its routing and access points will be based on GPS navigation, making it a low-cost, scalable model for replication across the U.S.
“This partnership marks a critical step forward on our path to unlocking a new era of aviation – one that is simpler, faster, and without the hassle of today’s commercial services,” said Parker Vascik, Electra director of Product Strategy. “By creating the necessary operational, physical, and digital infrastructure in an affordable package, we are one step closer to enabling safe, scalable, and reliable all-weather AAM operations across the country. Ultimately, our goal is to transform the future of travel, giving people the freedom to travel from where they are to where they want to go.”
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The program is led by Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) and is supported by the Virginia Small Aircraft Transportation Systems Lab and the Virginia Department of Aviation. Electra joins as a technical lead alongside NAVOS Air and will work to design, implement, and test instrument procedures for Ultra Short aircraft, including researching the successful implementation of Ultra Short access points.
“The Virginia AAM Smart Airspace Program is establishing the regulatory, procedural, and operational foundation for real-world AAM deployment—not in the future, but now,” said Tombo Jones, director of MAAP, an FAA Designated Test Site. “With FAA engagement, proven technical methods, and scalable infrastructure, Virginia is helping to define the national blueprint for how Advanced Air Mobility will operate in everyday airspace.”
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