II 

Calendar No. 646 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4246 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program to 

provide grants related to advanced air mobility infrastructure, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 18 (legislative day, MAY 17), 2022 

Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. MORAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

DECEMBER 14, 2022 

Reported by Ms. CANTWELL, with amendments 

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a 

pilot program to provide grants related to advanced air 

mobility infrastructure, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advanced Aviation In5 frastructure Modernization Act’’ or the ‘‘AAIM Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT 

2 PROGRAM. 

3 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

4 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es5 tablish a pilot program to provide grants that assist an 

6 eligible entity to plan for the development and deployment 

7 of infrastructure necessary to facilitate AAM operations, 

8 locally and regionally, within the United States. 

9 (b) PLANNING GRANTS.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

11 grants to eligible entities to develop comprehensive 

12 plans under paragraph (2) related to AAM infra13 structure. 

14 (2) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.— 

15 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year 

16 after receiving a grant under this subsection, an 

17 eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a 

18 comprehensive plan, including the development 

19 of potential public use and private vertiport in20 frastructure, in a format capable of being pub21 lished on the website of the Department of 

22 Transportation. 

23 (B) PLAN CONTENTS.—The Secretary 

24 shall establish content requirements for com25 prehensive plans submitted under this subVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Dec 15, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4246.RS S4246

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1 section, which shall include not less than 1 of 

2 the following as many of the following: 

3 (i) The identification of planned or 

4 potential public use and private vertiport 

5 locations. 

6 (ii) A description of infrastructure 

7 necessary to support AAM operations. 

8 (iii) A description of types of planned 

9 or potential AAM operations and forecast 

10 for proposed vertiport operations, including 

11 estimates for initial operations and future 

12 growth. 

13 (iv) The identification of physical and 

14 digital infrastructure required to meet any 

15 standards for vertiport design and per16 formance characteristics established by the 

17 Federal Aviation Administration (as in ef18 fect on the date on which the Secretary 

19 issues a grant to an eligible entity), includ20 ing modifications to existing infrastructure 

21 and ground sensors, electric charging or 

22 other fueling requirements, electric utility 

23 requirements, wireless and cybersecurity 

24 requirements, fire safety, perimeter secuVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Dec 15, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4246.RS S4246

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1 rity, and other necessary hardware or soft2 ware. 

3 (v) A description of any hazard asso4 ciated with planned vertiport infrastruc5 ture, such as handling of hazardous mate6 rials, batteries, or other fuel cells, charging 

7 or fueling of aircraft, aircraft rescue and 

8 firefighting response, and emergency plan9 ning. 

10 (vi) A description of potential environ11 mental effects of planned or potential con12 struction or siting of vertiports. 

13 (vii) A description of how planned or 

14 potential vertiport locations, including new 

15 or repurposed infrastructure, fit into State 

16 and local transportation systems and net17 works, including— 

18 (I) connectivity to existing public 

19 transportation hubs and intermodal 

20 and multimodal facilities; 

21 (II) opportunities to create new 

22 service to rural areas and areas un23 derserved by air transportation; or 

24 (III) opportunities to utilize ex25 isting aviation infrastructure, such as 


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1 airports and heliports, for AAM oper2 ations.; or 

3 (IV) any potential conflict with 

4 existing aviation infrastructure that 

5 may arise from the potential location 

6 of the vertiport. 

7 (viii) A description of how vertiport 

8 planning will be incorporated in State or 

9 metropolitan planning documents. 

10 (ix) The identification of the process 

11 an eligible entity will undertake to ensure 

12 an adequate level of engagement with any 

13 potentially impacted community for each 

14 planned vertiport location and planned or 

15 anticipated AAM operations, such as en16 gagement with communities in rural areas, 

17 underserved communities, individuals with 

18 disabilities, or racial and ethnic minorities. 

19 (ix) The identification of the process 

20 an eligible entity will undertake to ensure 

21 an adequate level of engagement with any 

22 potentially impacted community for each 

23 planned or potential vertiport location and 

24 planned or anticipated AAM operations, 

25 such as engagement with communities in 


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1 rural areas, underserved communities, Trib2 al communities, individuals with disabil3 ities, or racial and ethnic minorities. 

4 (x) The identification of the actions 

5 necessary for an eligible entity to under6 take the construction of a vertiport, such 

7 as planning studies to assess existing in8 frastructure or newly identified areas of 

9 AAM integration, environmental studies, 

10 studies of projected economic benefit to the 

11 community, lease or acquisition of an ease12 ment or land for new infrastructure, and 

13 activities related to other capital costs. 

14 (xi) The identification of State, local, 

15 or private sources of funding an eligible 

16 entity may use to assist with the construc17 tion or operation of a vertiport. 

18 (xii) The identification of existing 

19 Federal aeronautical and airspace require20 ments that must be met for the eligible en21 tity’s planned vertiport location. 

22 (xiii) A description of how the eligible 

23 entity will include opportunities for small 

24 business concerns owned and controlled by 

25 socially and economically disadvantaged inVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Dec 15, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4246.RS S4246

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1 dividuals to compete, on an equal basis, for 

2 contracts or subcontracts related to the de3 sign, development, construction, or oper4 ation of a proposed vertiport. 

5 (3) APPLICATION.—To apply for a grant under 

6 this subsection, an eligible entity shall provide to the 

7 Secretary an application in such form, at such time, 

8 and containing such information as the Secretary 

9 may require. 

10 (4) SELECTION.— 

11 (A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

12 under this subsection, the Secretary shall con13 sider the following: 

14 (i) Geographic diversity. 

15 (ii) Diversity of the proposed models 

16 of infrastructure financing and manage17 ment. 

18 (iii) Diversity of anticipated or 

19 planned AAM operations. 

20 (iv) The need for comprehensive plans 

21 that— 

22 (I) facilitate ensure the safe and 

23 efficient integration of AAM oper24 ations into the National Airspace Sys25 tem; 


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1 (II) improve transportation safe2 ty, connectivity, and access in both 

3 rural and urban regions in the United 

4 States; 

5 (III) leverage existing public 

6 transportation systems and intermodal 

7 and multimodal facilities or newly 

8 identified areas of AAM integration; 

9 (IV) reduce surface congestion 

10 and the environmental impacts of 

11 transportation; 

12 (V) grow the economy and create 

13 jobs in the United States; and 

14 (VI) encourage community en15 gagement when planning for AAM-re16 lated infrastructure. 

17 (B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall 

18 prioritize awarding grants under this subsection 

19 to eligible entities that partner to applications 

20 that capture as many items in paragraph (2)(B) 

21 as possible and to eligible entities that collabo22 rate with commercial AAM entities, institutions 

23 of higher education, research institutions, or 

24 other relevant stakeholders to develop and pre25 pare a comprehensive plan. 


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1 (C) MINIMUM ALLOCATION TO RURAL

2 AREAS.—The Secretary shall ensure that not 

3 less than 20 percent of the amounts made avail4 able under subsection (c) are used to award 

5 grants to eligible entities that submit a com6 prehensive plan under paragraph (2) that is re7 lated to infrastructure located in a rural area. 

8 (5) GRANT AMOUNT.—Each grant made under 

9 this subsection shall be made in an amount that is 

10 not more than $1,000,000. 

11 (6) BRIEFING.— 

12 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 

13 days after the first comprehensive plan is sub14 mitted under paragraph (2), and every 180 

15 days thereafter through September 30, 2024 

16 September 30, 2025, the Secretary shall provide 

17 a briefing to the appropriate committees of 

18 Congress on the comprehensive plans on each of 

19 the comprehensive plans submitted to the Sec20 retary under such paragraph. 

21 (B) CONTENTS.—The briefing required 

22 under subparagraph (A) shall include— 

23 (i) an evaluation of all planned or pro24 posed planned or potential vertiport loca25 tions included in the comprehensive plans 


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1 submitted under paragraph (2) and how 

2 such planned or proposed planned or po3 tential vertiport locations may fit into the 

4 overall United States transportation sys5 tem and network; and 

6 (ii) a description of lessons or best 

7 practices learned through the review of 

8 comprehensive plans and how the Sec9 retary will incorporate any such lessons or 

10 best practices into Federal standards or 

11 guidance for the design and operation of 

12 AAM infrastructure and facilities. 

13 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

14 (1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to 

15 be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 

16 section $12,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 

17 and 2023 fiscal years 2023 and 2024, to remain 

18 available until expended. 

19 (2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the 

20 amounts made available under paragraph (1), the 

21 Secretary may retain up to 1 percent for personnel, 

22 contracting, and other costs to establish and admin23 ister the pilot program under this section. 

24 (d) TERMINATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—No grant may be awarded 

2 under this section after September 30, 2023 Sep3 tember 30, 2024. 

4 (2) CONTINUED FUNDING.—Funds authorized 

5 to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (c) may 

6 be expended after September 30, 2023 September 

7 30, 2024— 

8 (A) for grants awarded prior to September 

9 30, 2023 September 30, 2024; and 

10 (B) for administrative expenses. 

11 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

12 (1) ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY; AAM.—The terms 

13 ‘‘advanced air mobility’’ and ‘‘AAM’’ mean a trans14 portation system that transports individuals or prop15 erty between points in the United States using air16 craft with innovative capabilities, including aircraft 

17 that use 2 or more lift or thrust units to generate 

18 powered lift and control during vertical takeoff or 

19 landing, that may be piloted, remotely piloted, or au20 tonomous, including those powered by electric or hy21 brid driven propulsion alternative propulsion, in both 

22 controlled and uncontrolled airspace. 

23 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON24 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con25 gress’’ means the Committee on Transportation and 


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1 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

2 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans3 portation of the Senate. 

4 (3) COMMERCIAL AAM ENTITIES.—The term 

5 ‘‘commercial AAM entities’’ means— 

6 (A) manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, 

7 propulsion systems, and air traffic management 

8 systems related to AAM; 

9 (B) intended commercial operators of AAM 

10 aircraft and systems; and 

11 (C) intended commercial operators and de12 velopers of vertiports. 

13 (4) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti14 ty’’ means— 

15 (A) a State, local, or Tribal government, 

16 including a political subdivision thereof; 

17 (B) an airport sponsor; 

18 (C) a transit agency; 

19 (D) a port authority; 

20 (E) a metropolitan planning organization; 

21 or 

22 (F) any combination or consortium of the 

23 entities described in subparagraphs (A) through 

24 (E). 


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1 (5) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZA2 TION.—The term ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza3 tion’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

4 5303(b) of title 49, United States Code. 

5 (6) RURAL AREA.—The term ‘‘rural area’’ 

6 means an area located outside a metropolitan statis7 tical area (as designated by the Office of Manage8 ment and Budget). 

9 (7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

10 the Secretary of Transportation. 

11 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means a State 

12 of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puer13 to Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the 

14 Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. 

15 (9) VERTIPORT.—The term ‘‘vertiport’’ means 

16 a designated location used or intended to be used to 

17 support AAM operations, including the landing, 

18 takeoff, loading, taxiing, parking, and storage of air19 craft developed for AAM operations. 

20 SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT. 

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 

23 the United States shall— 

24 (1) conduct a study on the interests, roles, and 

25 responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and Tribal 


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1 governments affected by AAM aircraft and operations; 

2 and 

3 (2) submit to the appropriate committees of Con4 gress a report on the study, including the Comptroller 

5 General’s findings and conclusions. 

6 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the study re7 quired under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall 

8 review the following: 

9 (1) The state of the law as of the enactment of 

10 this Act with respect to Federal authority over oper11 ations of AAM aircraft systems in the national air12 space system. 

13 (2) The state of the law as of the enactment of 

14 this Act with respect to State, local, and Tribal au15 thority over operations of AAM aircraft in the na16 tional airspace system. 

17 (3) Potential gaps between authorities under 

18 paragraphs (1) and (2). 

19 (4) Proposals to facilitate the safe and finan20 cially viable growth and development of the AAM in21 dustry and integration of AAM aircraft into the na22 tional airspace system. 


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Calendar No. 646 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4246 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to estabother purposes. advanced air mobility infrastructure, and for lish a pilot program to provide grants related to 

DECEMBER 14, 2022 

Reported with amendments 


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