Alabama(AL)

Alabama is positioning itself as a "Full-Lifecycle" AAM hub—from R&D in Huntsville to final assembly in Mobile. As of January 2026, the state’s strategy, managed by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the Department of Commerce, focuses on workforce readiness and the recruitment of innovative AAM OEMs.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Framework

Alabama’s roadmap is guided by the Joint Study Commission on Advanced Air Mobility, established by SJR 3 (2023). In December 2025, the commission released its final recommendations, which include:

• Centralized AAM Oversight: Proposed creation of a state-level AAM Coordinator to manage vertiport permitting and federal grant applications.
• Public-Use Vertiport Protections: New draft legislation for 2026 aims to ensure "reasonable access" to state-funded vertiports, preventing any single manufacturer from securing exclusive landing rights.
• Huntsville R&D Hub: Leveraging NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama is branding the "Rocket City" as the premier validation site for eVTOL autonomous flight software.

Pilot Programs and Manufacturer Support

Workforce development is the cornerstone of Alabama’s value proposition to manufacturers like Joby, Archer, and Beta.

• AIDT Training Center: In late 2025, Alabama’s primary workforce agency began operations at its new $30 million training center in Decatur, specifically designed for electric vehicle and emerging aviation technology technicians.
• Mobile Aerospace Cluster: With Airbus expanding its A320 and A220 lines in Mobile, the state is actively marketing the region to AAM OEMs to share a world-class aerospace supply chain and logistics network.

Strategic Initiatives and Resources

• Made in Alabama (Mobility Sector): madeinalabama.com/sectors/mobility
• ALDOT Bureau of Aeronautics: dot.state.al.us