DOT Requests Feedback on Development of AAM National Strategy

On May 16, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a request for information (RFI) on the development of a national strategy for advanced air mobility (AAM). A newly formed AAM Interagency Working Group (AAM IWG) within DOT has been tasked with development of the strategy by 2024 pursuant to the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act that President Biden signed into law last year. Under the request, DOT is asking for comments about what the IWG should address in the national strategy, barriers to success for AAM integration, and what steps the federal government needs to take to ensure successful implementation in the United States. 

DOT is expected to publish the RFI in the Federal Register tomorrow morning and has provided a 60-day window for the public to provide feedback. The deadline to respond will be Monday, July 17. AAAE will be working with its Operations, Safety, Planning and Emergency Management (OSPEM) Committee and members to respond to the request. In addition, we are planning to meet with members of the AAM IWG to brief them on airport-specific perspectives and issues associated with the integration of AAM into the National Airspace System (NAS). Airports are encouraged to provide us with any feedback that we should consider including in our comments to DOT and discussions with the AAM IWG. 

Background. Over the past few years, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and from both chambers have taken an interest in helping advance the maturation of AAM and ensure that the federal government is not impeding growth of the industry. In October 2022, Congress passed, and President Biden signed, the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act. The law directed DOT to establish the AAM IWG, consisting of representatives from across the federal government. The goal of the working group is to develop an 'AAM National Strategy' that includes (a) recommendations for federal investment and actions to support the evolution and growth of AAM and (b) a comprehensive plan detailing the roles and responsibilities of each federal department and agency to facilitate or implement the recommendations. 

DOT's AAM Interagency Working Group. In March, DOT established the AAM IWG, which consists of representatives from 22 different federal agencies. The group has created five distinct subgroups that will focus on (1) automation strategy, (2) security requirements, (3) air traffic management, (4) infrastructure development, and (5) community roles. Under the law, the AAM IWG must complete its recommendations and AAM national strategy by February 2024. AAAE and other industry stakeholders will be meeting with the group in the coming months to provide more in-depth discussions on AAM-related challenges and opportunities. 

Summary of DOT's AAM Request for Information. DOT's RFI primarily seeks general feedback on what should be addressed in the AAM national strategy, what airports or other stakeholders believe the existing barriers to success are, and what steps the federal government should take in the near, medium, and long term to maximize the potential success for AAM. 

In addition, the department outlined a long list of questions and areas where it invited feedback and comments, including, but not limited to:

• Descriptions of the most likely use cases for AAM;
• How new concepts in aviation, such as automation, may ensure and/or improve the level of safety of aircraft operations;
• Information about the expected AAM experience for customers or passengers;
• Current status of policies and institutions available to promote research for and development of an AAM industry;
• Specific laws, statutes or other policies that could be created or updated to support AAM;
• The role that state, local, tribal, and territorial governments should play in enabling AAM;
• Anticipated demand on power grids by AAM operators, the ability of municipal power grids to accommodate this anticipated demand, and any improvements or investments that may be needed to enable these operations;
• Information about the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in the population to accelerate AAM;
• The expected role of governments and private industries at all levels as to the development, funding, and operation of vertiports;
• Reasonably foreseeable environmental benefits and costs of integrating AAM operations into the NAS; and
• Standards and design guidelines needed for promoting automation.

What's Next? DOT is expected to publish the request in the Federal Register tomorrow morning and has provided a 60-day window for airports and the public to provide feedback. The deadline to respond will be Monday, July 17. AAAE will be working with its OSPEM Committee and members to develop comments and respond to the request. We are also planning to meet with the AAM IWG within the next few months to share airport-specific perspectives and issues that should be considered as the group develops the national strategy.