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Amy Alrutz started her college career as a professional pilot major in ��������’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering during her first year until she was drawn in by the unmanned aircraft systems operations major.  

It wasn’t long before Alrutz was hired as an undergraduate research assistant where she teaches other students how to fly drones and conducted workshops to educate the community, law enforcement and first responders about getting drones into the airspace safely and how they can improve public safety.

Alrutz was drawn to ��������’s Center for Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) because it offered her the opportunity to fly drones and prepare for her future career.

“What drew me to the Center for Advanced Air Mobility is just being able to have that experience,” she said. “It’s preparing me for my graduation and then for my future career as well. I got involved early flying the Alta-X (cargo drone) around campus … I think �������� is positioning itself as a leader for Advanced Air.”  

In 2023, �������� announced the establishment of the Center for Advanced Air Mobility within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. This cutting-edge center serves as a hub of innovation, research, and collaboration, bringing together faculty, staff, students, and external partners from government, academia, and industry to address the transformative field of advanced air mobility.

Advanced air mobility represents a groundbreaking integration of autonomous aircraft technology into the national airspace and the global economy. It aims to revolutionize low-level air transportation by providing safe, efficient, and sustainable solutions for passenger and cargo transport. ��������'s Center for Advanced Air Mobility is at the forefront of this emergent field, focusing on sustainability, clean energy, and the advancement of key technologies.

In 2024, �������� named Rubén Del Rosario, D.Eng. as the new director of the Center for Advanced Air Mobility and professor in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering. In these roles, Del Rosario has leveraged the center's achievements to create additional opportunities while harnessing the college's ability to provide students with hands-on, real-world experience in preparation for the future of advanced air mobility.

“The primary goal of the center is to bring all the different capabilities that we have within the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and within �������� at large and bring together all those skills and expertise that we have throughout faculty and throughout our research capability all under the umbrella of advancing aviation for the future,” Del Rosario said.

�������� is also leading the way when it comes to providing high school students with training. Through an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Workforce Development Program grant awarded to ��������. Todd Remenaric, a technology instructor at Stow-Munroe Falls High School’s Aeronautics Careers Academy, completed training to teach Part 47 drone certification.  Remenaric now brings that knowledge directly to his students, helping prepare the next generation for careers in unmanned aircraft systems and the broader aviation industry. 

CAE Hits Major Milestones in Advanced Air Mobility  

Last year, the College of Aeronautics and Engineering achieved a significant milestone in advanced air mobility research, receiving a specialized (FAA) waiver for drone operations over people and moving vehicles. This waiver positions �������� at the forefront of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) innovation and research.

Secured through the efforts of aviation law specialist Jason Lorenzon, Esq., and his student research team, the waiver enables the college to conduct unprecedented drone research and operations on campus.

Under current FAA regulations (14 CFR Part 107), drone operations are strictly limited to visual line of sight and are prohibited from flying over people or moving vehicles without special authorization. These restrictions are designed to protect public safety. The FAA requires an extensive evaluation process before granting waivers that allow certified pilots to conduct such operations, reviewing detailed safety protocols and risk mitigation strategies. 

Driving Innovation, Collaboration and Research

The Center for Advanced Air Mobility’s primary mission is to foster research, test, and development in advanced air mobility. By establishing strategic partnerships and collaborations, the center provides unique opportunities for workforce development in this rapidly growing industry. Students and researchers gain hands-on experience, expand their knowledge of key technologies and systems and become leaders in the field of advanced air mobility.

Ph.D. candidate Elahah Sabziyan Varnousfadera is studying mechatronics and has been conducting research in the Center for Advanced Air Mobility. Varnousfadera has plans to do research and teach in academia once she earns her Ph.D.

“The Center for Advanced Air Mobility at �������� is working to support our research because our research is related to advanced air mobility, which is a new and upcoming way to transport passengers, cargoes in cities, towns, and even rural areas,” Varnousfadera said. “So, it organizes many workshops and invites guest speaker to give us updates and very latest research about advanced air mobility so we can get familiar with the latest ideas and think about how we can make advanced air mobility a reality.”

Alrutz, Varnousfadera and other students benefit from the center in several different ways, Lorenzon said. As an assistant professor, Lorenzon is required to go and search for funding grants which fund the students for research positions within his and other labs. Throughout the year 15 to 20 students work with him. The students developed a program to train Part 107 to certify future pilots to fly drones

“We were funded by the FAA for aviation workforce development. We have just come up on our first year waiting for our second-year funding.”  

History and Future of Advanced Air Mobility  

Advanced Air Mobility was established by Congress back in 2012, Lorenzon said. There was major legislative reformation called the FA Modernization and Reformation Act. Congress asked the new industry to come up with rules so that the new technology can fly. NASA and the FAA were put in charge to come up with these disruptive technologies, Lorenzon said.

There is also work commencing that includes the fuel cell technology developed by Yanhai Du, Ph.D., professor in the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and principal investigator of ��������’s Fuel Cell Research program, Lorenzon said. He is also working on a project involving electronic airplanes and bringing that technology to ��������.  

“These new technologies are essentially flying cars,” he said. “But that's part of the end goal right now. Advanced air mobility is several things. It could be new technology and aircraft, and it could be electronic propulsion but taking what's already out there and creating new ideas around it. Again, taking some of the areas that are perhaps underserved by aviation and creating a new market.”

Research at �������� includes the areas of safety, consumer demand, law and policies and certifications. And �������� students are involved in the research.

But Lorenzon said the big question is what kind of workforce is there going to be when these new technologies hit the market? The Center for Advanced Air Mobility is taking the lead in this area working with industry and government on the local, regional, national and international levels.  

“What’s happening in Rwanda? What's happening in Kenya, what's happening in Europe? What's going to happen at the World's Fair in Serbia in 2026,” Lorenzon said. “What is Airbus doing? What is Boeing doing? So, all those things that we're trying to put together to prepare our students for what those future jobs look like.”