WMPO Receives NCDOT Grant for Advanced Air Mobility Planning in North Carolina
Why It MattersState transportation departments are funding regional advanced air mobility planning ahead of eVTOL operations, building local frameworks that tie into the federal pilot program and private developers.
The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) has received a grant for advanced air mobility planning. The WMPO applied for the grant in June. Advanced air mobility is an emerging aviation sector aimed at improving the transport of goods and, eventually, people using new types of aircraft, including drone-based delivery systems and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Potential uses include transporting medical supplies during disaster response, inspecting infrastructure and delivering cargo.
Several North Carolina jurisdictions are already participating in the first round of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) advanced air mobility program: the City of Greensboro, the Town of Cary, the Capital area's MPO, the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments and Forsyth County. The second round of funding includes the WMPO and three other planning organizations: the French Broad River MPO, the Northwest Piedmont RPO and Southwestern RPO, the latter in partnership with Foothills RPO and Land of Sky RPO.
In September 2025, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a new pilot program to accelerate deployment of advanced air mobility vehicles. The pilot aims to build public-private partnerships between state and local government entities and private companies such as Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation and Wisk Aero, to develop frameworks and regulations for safe operations.
