Electra has announced its partnership with the Virginia Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Smart Airspace Program to develop a low-cost instrument flight rules (IFR) network tailored for Ultra Short and other AAM aircraft. The initiative aims to establish a scalable national model that integrates new FAA-certified access points, ensuring AAM vehicles can operate reliably in poor weather conditions.
Currently, nearly all commercial aviation relies on IFR for predictability and safety, but existing procedures are not designed for AAM traffic. Without dedicated approaches, airports face potential congestion and diminished time savings for passengers. This program addresses that gap by creating GPS-based IFR routing that separates AAM flights from conventional aircraft, enabling more efficient, direct operations.
Electra, developer of the world’s first hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft, joins as a technical lead alongside NAVOS Air. The program is managed by Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), an FAA Designated Test Site, with financial and technical support from the Virginia Department of Aviation and the Virginia Small Aircraft Transportation Systems Lab.
“This program is building the foundation for real-world AAM deployment now,” said Tombo Jones, Director of MAAP. “With FAA engagement and scalable infrastructure, Virginia is defining how Advanced Air Mobility will operate in everyday airspace.”
Parker Vascik, Electra’s Director of Product Strategy, emphasized the broader vision: “This partnership unlocks a new era of simpler, faster travel. By creating affordable operational infrastructure, we’re enabling safe, all-weather AAM operations nationwide.”
Electra’s team will focus on designing and testing instrument procedures for the most challenging phase of low-visibility flight: transitioning from cloud coverage to landing. The GPS-based procedures will support flight when visibility drops below three miles and ceilings fall under 1,000 feet. The project also explores integrating Ultra Short access points at diverse locations.
Four Virginia sites anchor the effort: an off-airport access point at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute; a segregated AAM zone at Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport; an FAA-approved vertiport at Blackstone’s Allen C. Perkinson Airport; and Shannon Airport, a rural turf runway serving a commuter community.
A 2024 economic analysis by the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Logistics Systems projected the initiative could generate over $16 billion in economic activity, $2.8 billion in tax revenue, and create 17,000 aerospace jobs in Virginia by 2045.
Electra’s Ultra Short aircraft, capable of landing in as little as 150 feet, unlock thousands of new access points—from parking lots to underutilized runways—bringing air travel closer to communities and expanding economic opportunity nationwide.
