Airport Alert: Houses Passes the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act

November 4, 2021 

The House passed with broad, bipartisan support, H.R. 1339, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, sponsored by Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Garret Graves (R-LA). The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it stands a good chance for final passage if brought to the floor given that the Senate Commerce Committee has already favorably reported its own, similar version of the bill. 

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) refers to an air transportation system that moves people and cargo between places using new aircraft designs that are integrated into existing airspace operations as well as operated in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments. In May, AAAE formed its own, AAM Working Group, to keep members engaged on the trending issues and discussions involving AAM initiatives in Washington, the emergence of an AAM global market, the concept of vertiports and the impact they will have on airports, the integration of AAM operations within the airport ecosystem, as well as the National Airspace System, and the technological advancements of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. 

The AAM Coordination and Leadership Act directs DOT to establish an AAM interagency working group with other federal agencies to plan and coordinate efforts related to the safety, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity, and federal investment necessary to bolster the AAM ecosystem in the United States. 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 digital security risks and mitigations, and infrastructure development.

Earlier this year, AAAE signed a broad coalition stakeholder letter in support of the Senate companion of this legislation. That letter highlighted the enormous potential and broad societal benefits of this rapidly developing and transformative aviation sector.