Forsyth County intends to contract for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) planning and consulting services with one firm or individual for a period of five (5) years from the time of the contract signing and retains the right to add to or delete from the services listed in the following section. Fees will be negotiated with the selected firm or individual for each individual project. The goal is to build off of previous County-funded AAM studies and continue the County’s progress toward developing a comprehensive transportation system that embodies safety, sustainability, efficiency, resilience and equity for all residents in the Winston-Salem region. The use of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), electric conventional, vertical takeoff and landing, electric short takeoff and landing aircraft (eCTOL, eVTOL and eSTOL) and hybrid (hydrogen/electrical) aircraft -- collectively called Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), is anticipated to scale up in the United States over the next two to five years as an emerging low-cost, green and sustainable transportation option for passengers and cargo. As such, in 2021, Forsyth County funded the AeroX Advisory Council and the AeroX: First in Flight to Next in Flight strategic plan to aid in propelling the Winston-Salem region as a state and national leader in AAM. Building on this previous strategic plan as well as local partnerships between Forsyth Technical Community College, AeroX, the City of Winston-Salem, and the Winston-Salem Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WSUAMPO), Forsyth County will use the integration plan to seamlessly integrate AAM technologies into the transportation ecosystem and will ensure that the broad societal benefits of AAM are realized across the region.
