What is it about?
Regional Air Mobility (RAM) aims to provide faster and more efficient travel for medium-distance trips (50-500 miles), especially in areas underserved by traditional air and ground transportation. This study focuses on Tennessee and analyzes travel patterns to predict demand for RAM flights. By comparing cost, time, and risk factors, the study identifies when and where RAM is a better alternative to driving or commercial air travel. The findings show that RAM becomes more attractive for trips longer than 300 miles or when air travel accounts for most of the total cost. Expanding RAM networks to include more regional airports could improve connectivity and make air travel more competitive with ground transportation.
Featured Image
Photo by Hacı Elmas on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This study is one of the first to comprehensively model Regional Air Mobility (RAM) demand in Tennessee, integrating cost, time, and risk factors to predict when RAM is a viable alternative to ground and commercial air travel. Unlike previous studies, which often focus on Urban Air Mobility (UAM) or rely on limited datasets, our work utilizes real-world trip data from multiple sources, including transportation statistics, economic indicators, and risk assessments. This approach provides a more accurate and practical framework for decision-making. Our findings highlight the potential of RAM to improve regional connectivity, reduce travel time, and offer a competitive alternative for medium-distance trips, particularly as advanced air mobility technologies continue to develop.
Perspectives
Working on this publication has been an exciting journey, as it brings together my passion for advanced air mobility and data-driven decision-making. Regional Air Mobility (RAM) has the potential to revolutionize how we travel, yet its demand modeling has often been overlooked in favor of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). By focusing on Tennessee and incorporating cost, time, and risk factors, this research contributes to a more practical and actionable understanding of RAM’s viability. I hope this study sparks further discussions among researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals about how RAM can enhance connectivity in underserved regions. More than anything, I hope it encourages future work in optimizing regional air networks to make air travel more accessible and efficient.
Kamal Acharya
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Regional Air Mobility Flight Demand Modeling in Tennessee State, January 2025, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
DOI: 10.2514/6.2025-2783.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
