By: Dawn Zoldi
Spurred by the promise of advanced air mobility (AAM), and the convergence of high-profile events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 and related key federal investments, the digital infrastructure for drones and eVTOLs has been fast tracked. The desire for airspace awareness, especially in cities focused on modernizing their skies for safety, security and economic growth, has jump-started the need for trusted airspace management solutions. The sky is the limit for this digital infrastructure, which will serve host cities for decades…and long after the final tournament whistle blows.
High-Visibility Events Create Urgency, Funding Creates Opportunity
Major events like the FIFA World Cup bring with them great promise as well as unprecedented security challenges. Event safety officials consider drones to be one of the greatest emerging security risks in the skies above these high visibility matches. Lawmakers agree. As a result, they have allocated significant federal funding to shape how FIFA host cities (Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, Massachusetts, Washington and Pennsylvania) will govern their skies, and protect those on the ground.
In October 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released $250 million in federal funding, as part of a larger $500 million commitment, to secure American cities from aerial threats during the FIFA World Cup 2026, and beyond. Host cities now race to strengthen their counter-drone capabilities and airspace management systems by securing these funds. And the government has intertwined these funding opportunities with smart airspace digitization. FEMA and DHS grants will prioritize implementation-ready cities with clear strategies and robust partnerships.
Cities vying for these federal grants must build their paths to airspace modernization on readiness and a comprehensive digital infrastructure. For example, DHS funding follows the POETE framework (Planning, Organization, Equipment, Training, Exercises), which requires municipalities to coordinate with state agencies, draft investment justifications and submit implementation plans within strict deadlines.
“Cities building drone infrastructure now will lead for decades. Those who wait will scramble without systems. They will miss economic opportunities and federal investment,” emphasized Michael Healander, Airspace Link CEO. The company’s AirHub Portal streamlines grant compliance, strategy and rapid technology deployment, which will give cities the leg up they need to meet federal requirements, while also future-proofing their digital skies.
Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal: Digital Backbone for City Airspace
Well before the current push, Detroit-based Airspace Link built its reputation as a leading provider of digital infrastructure for drone operations management and unmanned traffic management (UTM) in the United States. The company’s AirHub Portal serves as a unified “one-stop shop” that combines pilot planning, real-time airspace and ground risk data, regulatory guardrails and advanced systems for professional operators, all in one centralized platform. (Watch the Worldwide Premiere of AirHub Portal on AGN).
Airspace Link long served as an FAA-approved LAANC and B4UFLY provider. According to Healander, “All of the products we’ve created thus far have essentially been individual apps. We have pilots that use pilot apps for planning their flights and operations. We have backend systems for supporting the air and ground data. Our AirHub Portal is now a one-stop-shop that combines all of these features and functions in one place,” he said.
This unification has already proven invaluable to cities requiring a scalable, compliant and community-friendly airspace solution. The company’s Drone Operations Management System (DOMS), AirHub Portal, integrates federal, state, and local data for real-time, scalable airspace awareness.
Built as a vendor-agnostic “single pane of glass” solution, the platform delivers advanced features like multi-sensor integration (ADS-B, radar, RF detection, and optical surveillance), resilient drone control, remote identification, UAS detection, and other environmental sensors deployed for major metro areas, federal installations and high-profile sporting events. This architecture enables cross-jurisdictional oversight and coordination, allowing multiple agencies—city police, county sheriffs, state authorities, and federal partners—to operate from the same unified operational picture. (See prior AG coverage of Airspace Link’s DOMS platform).
“We saw, and still see, the drone industry as a three dimensional problem,” Healander explained. “While it called for a digital solution, that solution could not be stand-alone. We knew we would have to harmonize air data with other critical information such as ground risk, safety rules, community perceptions, multi-tiered government involvement and more, all together in one product,” he continued.
This visionary approach now aligns with the current needs of the many cities facing complex regulatory requirements and heightened event security pressures. (Watch Michael Healander on the 2026 Dawn of Autonomy podcast). Today, AirHub Portal serves over 100,000 monthly users across 6,000+ businesses and government agencies.
The Broader Impact: Smart Cities and Advanced Mobility
To be clear, the importance of digital drone infrastructure doesn’t just lie in securing the skies. It also unlocks new economies of aerial logistics, delivery and next-generation transportation. Forward-thinking cities are harnessing federal resources, digital platforms, and expert partnerships to secure critical infrastructure, improve citizen safety and attract new business. Airspace Link’s AAirHub Portal helps cities navigate safety regulations while fostering innovation in AAM, medical delivery, emergency response and green mobility. Its work in Detroit and partnership with Michigan Central exemplifies how digital infrastructure supports advanced air mobility, medical supply delivery, and economic growth. (See prior AG coverage of the Detroit AAM ecosystem).
The Race for Digital Airspace Leadership is On!
Federal investment, high-visibility events and innovative solutions like Airspace Link’s AirHub Portal will propel cities to new heights for airspace management. The combination of technological growth,security demands and available funding have created a virtuous cycle. What does it look like? A robust digital drone infrastructure protects people and property, drives local economies and paves the way for future mobility.
Healander envisions a world where the safe integration of drones fuels human progress by advancing social equity, the environment and the economy. To fulfil that vision, and in preparation for rapid growth, Airspace Link is actively hiring to fill multiple positions now, with more to follow, in the following areas of expertise:
- Sales – Seasoned professionals having sold enterprise software into government space. Local and Remote.
- Marketing – Entry level event coordinator and social media. Detroit based.
- Software Engineers – Site Reliability Engineer and Backend Engineer specializing in Golang. Both Senior roles (open to candidates located outside of the state of Michigan).
- Product Management – must come from the industry and understand UTM well.
- Solutions Architect – highly skilled in solutioning for enterprise customers.
- Financial Analyst – mid-career, entrepreneurial, local to Detroit!
Positions come with a competitive salary, benefits and Stock Options. Visit the company’s careers page to stay updated.
In the meantime, for cities preparing for the World Cup, or just to be in the smart cities fast lane, investing in digital infrastructure now will help them build the future they aim to achieve.