The House of Representatives pushed through a bill known as the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act (S.B. 516) this week, setting up some improvements to planning and coordination between the public and private spheres on aviation technology.
Already advanced by the Senate, S.B. 516 would make the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) create an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) interagency working group to manage planning and coordination of safety, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity and federal investment efforts to improve AAM for the United States. With a particular eye on passenger aircraft, the bill is meant to simultaneously assure safety while pushing for an aerial means of reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility options.
“The Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act will encourage greater coordination amongst the federal government and aviation stakeholders to ensure the safety of the flying public as new technologies are integrated into U.S. airspace,” said U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that oversaw the bill in the chamber.
AAM is a bit of an umbrella title for any new air transportation system that moves people and cargo between places, which includes everything from passenger air vehicles or taxis, to electric aircraft and even flying cars. Proponents of its advancements say it could not only improve mobility, but lessen the burden on surface infrastructure, though none deny AAM advancements push into an already busy national airspace. With this in mind, the bill also mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study and report to Congress on the interests, roles and responsibilities of federal, state, local and Tribal governments affected by AAM aircraft and operations.
“If we want to keep leading the world in aviation, we can’t wait for technologies to come to us. Today, Members from both sides of the aisle showed they are ready to take advantage of the next wave of transportation innovation by passing the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act,” U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), vice chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said. “And, I’ll note, Kansas is home to a skilled aviation workforce with a proud history. I can’t wait to harness the huge economic potential of advanced air mobility for our state.”