The United States Senate has passed the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (S.516), which creates an interagency working group to engage the federal government more effectively in advancing the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector. Both the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) expressed satisfaction with the development.
“AAM is expanding the very definition of on-demand air mobility and presenting the United States with the opportunity to enhance the country’s leadership in all aspects of aviation. We welcome this legislation, and we thank the bill’s sponsors, Sens. Jerry Moran and Kyrsten Sinema, for championing this exciting new technology.” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
“As Advanced Air Mobility continues to develop, it will be essential for federal government agencies and departments to be coordinated and prepared to usher in this rapidly developing sector of aviation which will facilitate additional transportation options, create jobs, spur economic activity and competitiveness, advance environmental sustainability, foster further advancement in aerospace technology and support emergency preparedness. We applaud the Senate for passing the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which has broad bipartisan and bicameral support. We are very appreciative of all the work of those that championed the bill in the Senate, especially its sponsors, Senators Moran and Sinema,” Pete Bunce, President and CEO of GAMA.
Senators Jerry Moran and Kyrsten Sinema introduced the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish an interagency working group comprised of leaders from key government agencies to plan for and coordinate efforts to advance the AAM industry. The working group will be tasked with reviewing and making recommendations regarding the federal government’s role in the AAM sector beyond the initial critical stage of aircraft certification and operations, with an emphasis on economic and workforce development, potential physical and digital security risks and mitigations, and infrastructure development. The working group will consider the perspectives of a variety of stakeholders when developing these recommendations, including aviation operators and manufacturers; airports; labor groups; state, local, and tribal officials; consumer groups; and first responders.
The United States House of Representatives passed the companion bill (H.R. 1339) introduced by Representatives Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) and Garret Graves (R-Kan.) in November 2021. (R-La.). After each chamber has passed its own version of the bill, the chambers can work to reconcile their differences or one chamber may elect to pass the bill of the other chamber. Following these final congressional actions, the bill will be sent to President Biden for signature.
