Northwest Arkansas staked its claim as a world leader in next-generation transportation earlier this year, and the local conversation around and development of advanced air mobility (AAM) is providing headway. 

• Air destination: During the final day of the Heartland Summit, which took place yesterday at the Thaden Fieldhouse, the region was said to be “poised to become a hub" for new AAM technologies to be tested and scaled. 
• Innovative aircraft: The chairman of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Arkansas Council on Future Mobility was present at the Heartland Summit and discussed a future for what are essentially drones for passengers. He emphasized that initial testing for leading technology in AAM is being conducted not on the coasts, but in Benton and Washington counties. 

Read the full Talk Business & Politics story HERE for more on the discussions at the Heartland Summit.