We’re still energized from the LIFT Summit 2025, where 250+ attendees and 55 powerhouse speakers gathered in Monterey, CA to dive into what’s happening and where we’re headed in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), and next-gen transportation tech.

From live flight demos and facility tours to high-impact panels and strategic roundtables, this sold-out event was a key convening of AAM and UAS leaders across California’s Central Coast and from around the county.

Expo Day: Tech in Action

Expo Day kicked off with a high-energy industry tour, starting at AirSpace Integration’s UAS test site in La Selva Beach, CA, where over 80 attendees experienced live demos from:

• Pivotal Aero and Parallel Flight Technologies showcasing flight capabilities
• A walk-through of the CalFee Design makerspace and Farm-NG demonstration agricultural robotics

From there, the group traveled to the Joby Aviation campus in Marina, CA for an exclusive tour of its manufacturing facility and hangar—offering rare insight into the production process of eVTOL aircraft at scale.

The tour showcased the Central Coast as a living lab for mobility innovation, connecting people directly with the technologies and teams shaping the future of aviation.

At the conference center, Skyway unveiled its NAVPOD airspace management system—a first-ever public demo of its next-gen approach to airspace awareness, data fusion, and coordination. Another standout demonstration opportunity for this year’s attendees.

The tour showcased the Central Coast as a critical ecosystem of R&D capabilities for mobility innovation, connecting people directly with the technologies and teams shaping the future of aviation.

Check out this KSBW coverage of some of the highlights of Expo Day:

 

The LIFT Summit welcomed cross-sector participation from:

• Innovators: Joby Aviation, Wisk Aero, Odys Aviation, Jump Aero, Skyway, ResilienX, Reliable Robotics, Clear Sky Airlines, Elroy Air, GBL Systems, TruWeather Solutions, Anello Photonics, Diamond Stream Partners, Motion & Flow Control Products, Kimley-Horn
• Agencies & Operators: GAMA, CalTrans Aeronautics, FAA, USDOT, Salinas Airport, SFO
• Ecosystem Builders: GO-Biz, MBEP, REACH Central Coast, Ventura EDC
• Educational Institutions: Central Coast K-12 public school districts, the California Community Colleges, University of California, Naval Postgraduate School, and more spanning all the way to University of Alaska Fairbanks

Key Highlights 

• Aviation Workforce Roundtable: Hosted as part of CA Jobs First, this session brought together public, private, and nonprofit leaders to strategize on scaling a future-ready workforce.
  

• Keynote Speakers & Remarks from National Leaders, including from Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Congressman Dick Gephardt, and Dee Dee Myers, Director of California’s Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

• Key Themes and Sessions

• • Regional workforce development models ready for broad deployment
  • National AAM/UAS workforce and economic impact case studies
  • Infrastructure development and airport readiness for advanced airspace operations
  • Emergency and disaster response applications, and defense and dual-use innovation 
  • The future of autonomy, current status and what’s on the horizon

Check out this KSBW coverage of some of the local and national workforce and economic development leaders attending the conference:

 

Thank You

LIFT Summit 2025 was made possible through the vision and generosity of our sponsors —especially the James Irvine Foundation and Eden 8 Foundation—and the shared commitment of everyone working to shape a more innovative, equitable, and connected future.

What is the LIFT Summit?

Presented by DART, the LIFT Summit is more than a summit—it’s a launchpad for collaboration, innovation, and action. Each year, the Summit convenes leaders from across sectors to accelerate the future of mobility and autonomy through dialogue, partnerships, and hands-on experiences.

Aligned with the DART mission to support the advancement of AAM & UAS industries for quality job growth and community vitality, the 2025 theme focused on scaling these emerging tech sectors as economic engines, with a focus on public-private collaboration, workforce training, and infrastructure investment.

Learn more and stay tuned for more information about the 2026 LIFT Summit here.

LIFT Summit 2025 was made possible through the vision and generosity of our sponsors —especially the James Irvine Foundation and Eden 8 Foundation—and the shared commitment of everyone working to shape a more innovative, equitable, and connected future.