Basil Yap contributes to the UAS and AAM space in a variety of roles. Mr. Yap started his career working in the highway transportation sector and then transitioned to airport development. He helped stand up and ultimately lead North Carolina’s award-winning UAS Program both as a public servant and as an embedded consultant. Mr. Yap is Vice President of Hovecon; a consulting firm focused on UAS and AAM. He is also President of AeroX, a non-profit focused on enabling a localized UAS traffic management (UTM) system in North Carolina. He co-founded a venture fund focused on UAS and AAM-related startups. Mr. Yap is an appointee to NASA’s Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable; the mission is to define and explore critical issues related to the nation's aeronautics research agenda, including UAS, eVTOL technology, and Urban Air Mobility.

Chris is an experienced leader, mobility researcher, and aviation consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry. His primary background is in aviation operations and airports with a focus on emerging aviation technologies, policy development, and airport and environmental planning. He is a recognized subject matter expert in these fields and his expertise in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) has resulted in multiple engagements with Federal clients and multiple airports in the U.S. to support integration efforts. 

He is currently a Principal at Hovecon in Raleigh, NC, a Senior AAM Specialist at P17 Solutions in Washington, DC, and an adjunct professor at Florida Tech where he teaches two graduate courses on the UAM Ecosystem and Infrastructure Planning for AAM. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology.