Airport Alert: House Committee Approves Aviation Bills

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today approved a handful of aviation-related bills including one that would provide federal grants to help develop public-use vertiports and other Advanced Air Mobility infrastructure.
 
Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act
 
The committee cleared H.R. 6270, the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill that would require DOT to establish a pilot program aimed at developing infrastructure related to Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). Aviation Subcommittee Chair Rick Larsen (D-WA), Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA), and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced the measure.
 
'To prepare for AAM aircraft, communities must begin planning now for their potential operations,' Larsen said. 'This planning includes considering how new AAM technology will impact local communities and building the necessary infrastructure for these aircraft to operate.'
 
The AIMM Act would allow airports and other state and local entities to receive planning grants of up to $1 million per project. The measure would authorize $12.5 million in FY22 and in FY23 for the program with funds coming from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
 
National Center for the Advancement of Aviation

The committee also approved H.R. 3482, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act. The bipartisan bill would 'create a federally chartered, private entity to support and promote the civil aviation and aerospace workforce.' 

The bill was introduced by Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) and former Rep. Don Young (R-AK). Carson said the measure 'will help ensure a more diverse aviation workforce, create more good jobs and keep our skies safer.' Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) has introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
 
Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act
 
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee also cleared H.R. 5315, the Drone Infrastructure Grant Act. The bill would require DOT to create a drone infrastructure inspection grant program to 'support more efficient inspection, maintenance, and repair of the nation's critical infrastructure….' 

The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), also calls for the agency to create a drone education and workforce training grant program to 'better equip the U.S. workforce to use drone technology."