by DRONELIFE Contributor T. Seth Ford (Drone615, Nashville, TN)
The 2025 Tennessee Drone & AAM Symposium at the Vanderbilt Loews Hotel in Nashville underscored the state’s push toward a “three-dimensional” transportation ecosystem that integrates surface, air, and digital networks. Hosted by Vanderbilt University with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) as Master of Ceremonies, the event brought more than 300 participants together to examine how drones and advanced air mobility (AAM) will be deployed across public safety, research, and infrastructure planning in the coming years.
Technical Focus at the Tennessee Drone & AAM Symposium
A central thread throughout the conference was the importance of rigorous, data-driven deployment standards and transparent operational frameworks for both drones and emerging AAM platforms. Representative Ed Butler urged industry stakeholders to maintain clear accountability as systems scale, emphasizing that practices and procedures “must be ambitious, practical, and humane” to sustain public confidence. TDOT Deputy Commissioner Preston Elliott expanded on a vision for autonomous aerial transportation, which highlighted regulatory architectures designed around safety, innovation, and public trust.
Elliott described a future operational concept in which automated aircraft move within a “three-dimensional” grid that combines road, airspace, and digital connectivity layers. In this model, autonomous and remotely piloted systems rely on integrated communications, navigation, and data-sharing infrastructure to support routine operations, including corridor-based routing and dynamic airspace management. JP Saalwaechter, TDOT’s Director of Aeronautics, expanded on the strategic role of public agencies in enabling safe airspace use and accelerating adoption of these technologies across Tennessee.
BVLOS, DFR Programs, and AAM Integration
Public safety and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations featured prominently in the technical discussions. Local and state “drones as first responder” (DFR) programs are scaling each year, pairing domestic hardware with advanced software to support BVLOS workflows as proposed Part 108 legislation progresses. These programs aim to standardize repeatable procedures for launch, command-and-control, data management, and community engagement, while maintaining high levels of situational awareness and traceability in flight operations.
The addition of the AAM component to this year’s symposium title reflects growing momentum in advanced aviation concepts, from drone package delivery to thin-haul passenger and cargo operations in underserved markets. TDOT Aeronautics continues to study where vertiports, drone hubs, and related infrastructure may be deployed, working with universities and industry to align research, workforce development, and system design. Exhibitors showcased unmanned aircraft, data analytics platforms, and enabling infrastructure, giving attendees direct exposure to the tools that will underpin Tennessee’s integrated, research-driven aerial mobility network.
More information on the symposium and TDOT’s AAM projects is available here.
Read More
- Vanderbilt University to Host 2nd Annual Tennessee Drone and AAM Symposium
- Unity in Crisis: How Drone Teams Mobilized to Aid Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief in Eastern Tennessee
- AIRT Launches ‘AAM For Good’ to Advance Air Mobility for Public Safety and Emergencies
T. Seth Ford is a US Marine Corps combat veteran who flew attack helicopters and small drones in combat zones and assisted in small UAS testing and evaluation. Seth holds degrees, certificates, and licenses across multiple fields and disciplines and is currently seeking an MS in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is the founder and principal pilot of drone615.net in Nashville, TN.
Ian McNabb is a journalist focusing on drone technology and lifestyle content at Dronelife. He is based between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys hiking and Boston area sports.
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