By: KeyCrew Media
While New York City debates congestion pricing and subway modernization, a quieter revolution in transportation infrastructure is taking shape 150 miles north in the Mohawk Valley – one that could position New York State as the national leader in advanced air mobility.
Lisa Wright, architect and founder of Landings, has been methodically building relationships in Albany while developing a network of vertiport sites across six Mohawk Valley counties. Her vision: establish New York as the proving ground for electric aviation infrastructure before other states claim that territory.
“I’m trying to find a way to get New York State to be early into the advanced air mobility sector – have a state board or very friendly, pro-business approach,” Wright explained during a recent strategy session. “They already do this with drones. We need to expand that vision.”
Wright’s persistence is paying off. She’s now attended two Business Council of New York events where she shared stages with Waymo and Amazon representatives – and where Governor Kathy Hochul has taken notice. The Business Council, which represents 400 lobbyists and major corporations, provides exactly the pro-business advocacy platform Wright believes advanced air mobility needs.
The Mohawk Valley focus isn’t accidental. Wright’s company is developing 12 vertiport locations across the six-county region, each positioned within 30-40 miles of others in the network. These sites will serve as testing and operational bases for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), heavy cargo drones, and short-takeoff aircraft—creating the infrastructure backbone before commercial operations begins.
“Mohawk Valley sites could break ground this year,” Wright notes, though she’s learned that energy infrastructure remains the critical path. Recent meetings with NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) have focused on positioning vertiports as multimodal charging centers that serve not just aircraft but rural school buses and municipal fleets.
This shared-use approach solves two problems simultaneously: providing the heavy charging infrastructure aircraft require while addressing rural communities’ broader electrification needs. It’s exactly the kind of practical, community-focused infrastructure strategy that could win over skeptical upstate voters and officials.
Wright draws parallels to Waymo’s success testing autonomous vehicles on New York streets – achieved largely because the company had effective Albany representation. “Waymo’s getting to test their vehicles on New York streets because they had a lobbyist,” she observes. The implication is clear: advanced air mobility needs similar advocacy infrastructure.
The opportunity extends beyond transportation. BP, with extensive upstate New York locations, attended the same Business Council event. Companies like Tractor Supply and equipment rental chains with rural footprints represent potential vertiport partners who already own strategically located land.
Wright envisions local Mohawk Valley podcasts and media coverage building grassroots support while Albany shapes favorable policy. “I want the communities to be a huge success,” she emphasizes. “That’s going to start by getting the state to have really good pro-business approaches – not the ‘not in my backyard’ attitude that data centers are now facing.”
New York has historically led in transportation innovation—from the Erie Canal to the subway system. Wright sees advanced air mobility as the next chapter, with the Mohawk Valley serving as the proof of concept that scales statewide.
As other states announce their own air mobility networks—Miami, Ohio, Texas—the race is on. New York has the industrial sites, community support, and energy infrastructure expertise. What it needs is the coordinated state-level commitment to infrastructure that positions rural New York not as an afterthought, but as the model the rest of America will follow.
The question isn’t whether electric aviation is coming to New York. It’s whether New York will lead or follow.
About Landings
Landings is building North America’s first comprehensive network of vertiport landing and charging infrastructure for electric aircraft. With a planned network of 2,000+ rural locations across North America, Landings is laying the groundwork for Advanced Air Mobility to reach critical mass at scale. Founded by architect and energy management expert Lisa Wright, the company takes an infrastructure-first, asset-light approach through revenue-sharing partnerships with commercial property owners. Landings has been featured on Bloomberg Television and is currently raising capital to expand its platform. Learn more at landings.co.
