Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) are critical when considering doing business with government agencies. These certifications can and do lead to big business for the transportation sector.  This is the case whether you own a for-hire ground transportation company, or a technology or construction company building infrastructure, or even if you are an electric vehicle charging company or vehicle manufacturer looking to sell or lease to the government.  Increasingly in the U.S., if you do not have such certifications (or a member of your bidding team that does not have it as a subcontractor), your company could find itself on the outside looking in at others obtaining procurement advantages and massive contracts.  Also, in this day and age, with the emphasis at all levels of mobility focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion, meeting these requirements (even if not formal certifications) may give your company an edge in obtaining contracts for passenger transportation in the non-emergency medical transportation and business travel arena in the private sector, as well.

What Is Advanced Air Mobility?

Just like the media mentions, the term “robotaxis” as a simplified reference to automated or driverless cars (and for many years, reporters mistakenly referred to transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft as ridesharing services), some folks have been using the parlance “flying taxis” to reference this new and emerging mode of aviation. Not only is that an oversimplification, but there are other terms of art, such as AAM or UAM that have been thrown about that are sometimes confused and misunderstood.