U.S. Senate Committee Approves Advanced Air Mobility Working Group Bill

On May 12, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (S.516), which establishes a federal interagency working group to develop a national strategy, in coordination with industry and other stakeholders, to enable the maturation and growth of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) sector.

“We applaud the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for passing the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act and commend the steadfast leadership of Senators Moran and Sinema to advance this important legislation,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “Advanced Air Mobility is a new and innovative sector of aviation which has the potential to facilitate additional transportation options, create jobs and economic activity, advance environmental sustainability and new technologies, and support emergency preparedness and competitiveness. The Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act directs the federal government to take a leadership role to help facilitate the highest level of societal benefit as these transformative and sustainable aircraft are more fully introduced into the national airspace system.”

The Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D- Ariz.), authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish an interagency working group to plan for and coordinate efforts for the advancement of operating AAM aircraft. The working group will be tasked to review and make recommendations for the federal role in the AAM sector, beyond the initial critical stage of aircraft certification and operations, with a focus on economic and workforce opportunities, potential physical and cyber security risks and mitigations, the domestic supply chain, and infrastructure development.

The bill is now subject to approval of the full Senate.