Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging mode of air travel using small, typically electric aircraft to move people or goods within cities or between regional areas – addressing increasing strain on urban transportation. UAM envisions a future where commuting by air is an accessible and common mode of transit reducing travel times, lowering environmental impact, and improving the quality of urban life.

Vertiports are specialized facilities designed to support air taxi operations. Much like airports, passengers can check-in and board their flights at vertiports, where aircraft arrive and are serviced for their next departing flight. These facilities are equipped to handle passenger boarding, aircraft charging or refueling, and maintenance. They can be located on rooftops, malls, parking garages or near transportation hubs to facilitate quick and efficient air travel within or between cities.

Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft (eVTOLs) are designed to take off and land vertically. They are predominantly powered by electric motors, making them more environmentally friendly by reducing emissions and noise pollution. Many eVTOL aircraft can also transition between vertical and horizontal flight, allowing them to takeoff and land like a helicopter, but fly horizontally like a plane. This allows for more compact and efficient designs, enabling operations in tight urban spaces where conventional aircraft cannot.