Flying cars might seem like something out of the distant future, zipping back and forth like in 'The Jetsons,' the Hanna-Barbera Space Age animated TV series of the 1960s.
But Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), as the technology is known, is about to land at a general aviation airport near you.
At least 20 states - including Georgia - are starting to explore AAM technology, an investment of more than $8 billion today that is expected to grow to $45 billion by 2030, Clement Solomon, director of the Georgia Department of Transportation's Intermodal Division, told members of the State Transportation Board last month.
Solomon said the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to certify the first electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) late this year or early in 2025.
"This thing's futuristic," Georgia Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry added. "But there's been activity already in Georgia with these types of AAMs."
California-based Archer Aviation is building a 350,000-square-foot manufacturing plant adjacent to the Covington Municipal Airport in Newton County to produce up to 650 eVTOLs annually.
In Augusta, private air charter operator Bravo Air is working with Japan's SkyDrive to begin flying passengers on short trips aboard eVTOLs the Japanese company has begun building through a joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corp.
Solomon said AAM technology focuses on transporting passengers and cargo on short trips at low altitudes. Flying at altitudes of 1,500 feet to 4,500 feet, eVTOLs can transport four to six passengers up to 250 miles.
"The concept right now is Air Uber," he said.
Solomon said the freight potential of AAM technology is in carrying 'low-volume, high-value' cargo, such as computer chips, medical equipment, or human organs needed for transplant.
The Georgia DOT formed a working group last year to assess the potential for AAM technology in Georgia. The group included representatives of airports, municipal planning organizations, and the academic and business communities.
He said a network of eVTOL chargers needs to be built at a cost of $500,000 to $750,000 each. Currently, the only chargers for the vehicles in Georgia are in Augusta and Valdosta.
Solomon said the study's goals were to set the stage for rolling out AAM technology in the next three to five years, with eVTOLs expected to begin commercial operations between 2026 and 2030.