The advanced air mobility sector has seen significant progress on several important milestones since NBAA formed an AAM Roundtable a year ago. NBAA launched the group to provide a forum for high-level policy discussions with sector leaders to chart a course for the integration of AAM technologies into U.S. airspace and transportation infrastructure.
Over the past year, the association and roundtable have worked with Congress and federal agencies in the U.S. to help address infrastructure and operational challenges associated with AAM. In December, House Aviation Subcommittee chairman Rick Larsen and Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves introduced the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization (AAIM) Act, which would help plan for and develop AAM infrastructure, including vertiports.
NBAA said its advocacy and close coordination with roundtable members proved critical to the introduction of the AAIM Act, which has helped educate members of Congress about the potential benefits of AAM. The association also continues to work with the FAA in several important areas that affect AAM, including input on vertiports, as well as convening regular meetings with leadership from the FAA Office of Airports and AAM Roundtable members.
In addition, NBAA plans to identify top industry priorities for the agency to consider as part of FAA reauthorization legislation scheduled for next year and is holding regular roundtable meetings to address them.