DART was honored to participate as part of the California delegation to the 2025 Paris Air Show, the world’s premier aviation and aerospace event. Organized with the leadership of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), this year’s delegation was designed to highlight California’s thriving aerospace and advanced air mobility (AAM) sectors and cultivate opportunities for collaboration across borders.

Championing California Opportunities

As part of the GO-Biz delegation, DART joined a coordinated effort to spotlight the innovation, talent, and business potential that California offers the global aerospace community. From infrastructure and workforce to cutting-edge technology and R&D, California continues to lead in shaping the future of advanced aviation. Through its presence at the CA Pavilion and a series of direct engagements, DART was proud to help amplify the state’s commitment to aerospace industry growth, sustainability, and cross-sector collaboration.

Witnessing a Groundbreaking International Moment

A key highlight of the Paris Air Show was witnessing the release of the first collaborative Roadmap for AAM Type Certification by members of the Five Eyes (FVEY) national aviation authorities: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This milestone reflects a shared commitment to advancing global regulatory alignment and safety standards for emerging aviation technologies. It didn’t go unnoticed that three of the four eVTOL OEMs at the announcement are CA-based market leaders (Archer, Joby, and Wisk). 

For DART, this moment underscored the importance of ongoing cross-border collaboration to build a trusted, interoperable global framework for AAM. The roadmap not only reinforces the seriousness of AAM’s evolution but also creates new opportunities for California-based innovators to engage with international regulatory conversations and market pathways.

Expanding Strategic Partnerships: Local Roots, Global Reach

The Paris Air Show provided a valuable platform for DART to engage in a range of conversations focused on partnership and ecosystem development—locally, nationally, and internationally.

At the regional level, DART connected with colleagues from across California, including leaders from B3K Prosperity (Bakersfield-Kern County), San Diego Regional EDC, LARTA Institute, and California Manufactures and Technology Association, to discuss shared priorities around workforce development, advanced aviation infrastructure, and aerospace sector growth opportunities. These cross-county engagements underscored the importance of alignment across regions as California continues building a statewide strategy for AAM sector development.

At the national level, DART participated in discussions with delegates from other U.S. states investing in advanced air mobility. These conversations revealed opportunities for knowledge sharing and potential collaboration in areas such as education and training pathways, and regulatory and infrastructure planning. The show served as a valuable touchpoint for learning about how peer regions are approaching AAM, and identifying where our efforts may align moving forward.

On the international front, DART joined key engagements with international stakeholders to explore potential entry points for global collaboration. This included conversations around supporting international companies interested in exploring the California market, as well as helping California-based innovators understand pathways to scale abroad. These early-stage discussions laid groundwork for potential future partnerships aimed at advancing innovation and opening up new markets.

Finally, the event offered a welcome opportunity to reconnect with existing international partners, including collaborators in France and the Netherlands. These ongoing relationships continue to provide insight into international AAM trends and priorities, while supporting the global positioning of DART’s broader ecosystem.

Through these engagements, DART is expanding its network and uncovering new opportunities to support companies, communities, and workforce partners both at home and abroad.

Looking Ahead

As we return to California, DART is energized by the connections made and the momentum carried forward from the Paris Air Show. We look forward to building on this experience in support of our mission to foster a resilient, inclusive, and globally connected AAM innovation ecosystem rooted in California. 

“The Paris Air Show revealed an inflection point in global readiness for Advanced Air Mobility. DART is committed to advancing the partnerships and dialogue forged there—so that the benefits of this transformation reach our local communities, elevate California’s leadership, and strengthen the nation’s role in this industry,” said Josh Metz, DART Executive Director. 

To our partners, colleagues, and hosts—merci beaucoup! Let’s keep building together.