Ohio supercharges air mobility with billions in new investments

By mid-2026, states like Utah and Florida have taken proactive steps to establish the necessary infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support the burgeoning advanced air mobility (AAM) sector, particularly focusing on EVTOL operations. Utah's leadership in a U.S. Department of Transportation pilot program spanning 26 states exemplifies a collaborative approach to testing applications such as air taxis, cargo delivery, and emergency medical response, while the FAA's integration pilot programs further accelerate real-world EVTOL testing and regulatory progress essential for commercialization.

Multistate alliances and public-private partnerships are proving pivotal in fast-tracking the commercialization of EVTOL and other AAM technologies. The expansive pilot program involving eight projects across 26 states not only fosters shared learning but also aligns regulatory and operational standards, creating a cohesive ecosystem that supports early EVTOL applications primarily in cargo and medical transport, which currently focus on short regional trips due to battery limitations.

Georgia is emerging as a frontrunner in advanced air mobility infrastructure with the Columbus Airport Commission advancing plans for a vertiport designed to accommodate electric aircraft like the Archer Midnight, developed in partnership with BETA Technologies. This initiative aligns with the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Blueprint, which envisions a statewide network of vertiports and interstate corridors, thereby not only enhancing aviation capabilities but also driving regional economic growth through aerospace industry attraction and workforce development.

Ohio has strategically positioned itself as a leader in advanced air mobility (AAM) by establishing a dedicated sector within JobsOhio that bridges industry, government, and academia to synchronize workforce development, regulatory advocacy, and policy alignment. This collaborative framework ensures seamless communication among federal policymakers, the state Department of Transportation, and local stakeholders, fostering an environment where innovation and regulatory progress go hand in hand.

A hallmark of Ohio’s proactive approach is its success in securing the FAA line of sight waiver, enabling EVTOL vehicles to operate and test within Ohio airspace—an achievement that underscores the state’s commitment to removing regulatory barriers for AAM adoption. This regulatory milestone, coupled with Ohio’s robust aerospace ecosystem anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and bolstered by entities like the Dayton Development Coalition, creates a fertile ground for aerospace manufacturing and defense partnerships.

The synergy between Ohio’s workforce development initiatives and its strategic alignment with defense and aerospace sectors has catalyzed significant investments and job creation in AAM manufacturing. Electra’s $850 million investment generating nearly 2,000 jobs in Springfield, Joby Aviation’s commitment to 2,000 jobs, and Sierra Nevada Corporation’s $100 million infusion exemplify how coordinated efforts among government, academia, and industry are translating into tangible economic growth and advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Electra's landmark $850 million investment in a sprawling 96-acre Springfield facility underscores Ohio's emergence as a national hub for advanced air mobility manufacturing. By leveraging the state's robust aerospace ecosystem, proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and generous state and local incentives, Electra plans to mass-produce up to 400 EL9 hybrid-electric aircraft annually—doubling to 800 in the near future—with support from aerospace giants like Honeywell, Safran, and Lockheed Martin Ventures. This initiative alone is set to create nearly 2,000 high-tech jobs, significantly bolstering the region's economic and industrial landscape.

Complementing Electra’s push, Anduril’s $910 million Arsenal-1 campus marks the largest single job-creation project in Ohio’s history, with plans to employ over 4,000 workers and develop a 5 million square foot manufacturing footprint by 2035. Focused on producing the FQ-44 'Fury' autonomous combat drone at a rate of up to 150 units annually, this facility advances Ohio’s defense manufacturing capacity in alignment with the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. Anduril’s rapid project execution and strong commitment to workforce development resonate deeply with Ohio’s aerospace legacy and economic goals, further cementing the state’s strategic role in next-generation aviation and defense production.

The launch of Anduril’s $910 million Arsenal-1 facility in Ohio, producing up to 150 Fury autonomous combat drones annually and creating over 4,000 jobs, marks a transformative leap in defense drone manufacturing. This project not only represents Ohio’s largest single job-creation effort but also integrates workforce development and community engagement deeply into its strategy, supported by a record $310 million JobsOhio grant, thereby reinforcing the state’s aerospace legacy and advancing localized defense supply chains.

The Fury drone exemplifies the growing trend of dual-use technologies by blending commercial and defense applications; designed as a robotic wingman for manned jets under the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, it was unveiled just 18 months after project initiation, highlighting rapid innovation cycles in advanced air mobility.

The establishment of the Ukrainian Defense Drones (UDD) manufacturing center near Toledo, Ohio, underscores a strategic integration of battlefield-tested drone technology into the U.S. industrial base, focusing on assembling first-person-view drones to meet both U.S. and allied demands. With plans to create at least 300 jobs by 2029, the facility emphasizes supply chain localization and workforce development to reduce foreign dependency risks and move beyond mere final assembly toward deeper domestic production of critical components.

Success for Ohio’s emerging defense drone sector hinges on meeting the Pentagon’s stringent requirements for performance, affordability, and rapid delivery within a highly competitive procurement environment. The Pentagon’s Drone Dominance Program, aiming to deploy hundreds of thousands of low-cost, one-way attack drones by 2027, already secured initial prototype orders of 2,000 drones, underscoring the urgency and scale driving localized, scalable drone production efforts.

Southwest Ohio’s aerospace ecosystem thrives largely due to its strategic proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which has nearly doubled its workforce from 19,000 in 2005 to around 38,000 today, driven by BRAC-related mission expansions. This military presence not only anchors the region’s defense industry but also attracts major aerospace investments, as Jeff Hoagland, CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, emphasizes: “We have the sites. We have the workforce. We have the quality of life. But we also have Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.”

The recent $850 million Electra investment to build a 96-acre production facility in Springfield exemplifies how Southwest Ohio’s advanced air mobility ecosystem and supportive state and local incentives catalyze massive aerospace manufacturing growth. This plant alone will create 1,975 jobs producing the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft, complementing Joby Aviation’s commitment of 2,000 jobs in Vandalia and highlighting the region’s expanding capacity to meet diverse aerospace demands.

Beyond direct employment, the aerospace ecosystem synergy in Southwest Ohio generates significant secondary economic benefits, fueling growth in construction, supply chains, logistics, and other supporting industries. The Dayton Development Coalition anticipates that Electra’s investment will elevate household incomes, boosting local spending and creating additional jobs, thereby reinforcing a virtuous cycle of regional economic vitality anchored by a skilled workforce nurtured through robust local training programs.