II 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6270 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 14, 2022 

Received 

AN ACT 

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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advanced Aviation In3 frastructure Modernization Act’’ or the ‘‘AAIM Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT 

5 PROGRAM. 

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

7 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es8 tablish a pilot program to provide grants that— 

9 (1) assist an eligible entity to plan for the de10 velopment and deployment of infrastructure nec11 essary to facilitate AAM operations in the United 

12 States; and 

13 (2) make funding available for costs directly re14 lated to construction of public-use vertiports or asso15 ciated infrastructure. 

16 (b) PLANNING GRANTS.— 

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

18 grants to eligible entities to develop comprehensive 

19 plans under paragraph (2) related to AAM infra20 structure. 

21 (2) COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.— 

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

23 after receiving a grant under this subsection, an 

24 eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary a 

25 comprehensive plan in a format that may be 


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1 published on the website of the Department of 

2 Transportation. 

3 (B) PLAN CONTENTS.—The Secretary 

4 shall establish content requirements for com5 prehensive plans submitted under this sub6 section, which may include the following: 

7 (i) The identification of planned or 

8 potential public-use or private-use vertiport 

9 locations. 

10 (ii) A description of infrastructure 

11 necessary to support AAM operations. 

12 (iii) A description of types of planned 

13 or potential AAM operations. 

14 (iv) The identification of physical and 

15 digital infrastructure required to meet the 

16 standards for vertiport design and per17 formance characteristics established by the 

18 Federal Aviation Administration (as in ef19 fect on the date on which the Secretary 

20 issues a grant to an eligible entity), includ21 ing modifications to existing infrastructure 

22 and ground sensors, electric charging and 

23 other fueling requirements, electric utility 

24 requirements, wireless and cybersecurity 


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1 requirements, and other necessary hard2 ware or software. 

3 (v) A description of potential environ4 mental effects of planned construction or 

5 siting of public-use vertiports, including ef6 forts to reduce the adverse effects of po7 tential aviation noise. 

8 (vi) A description of how planned pub9 lic-use or private-use vertiport locations, 

10 including new or repurposed infrastruc11 ture, fit into existing State and local trans12 portation systems and networks, includ13 ing— 

14 (I) connectivity to existing public 

15 transportation hubs and intermodal 

16 and multimodal facilities; 

17 (II) opportunities to create new 

18 service to areas underserved by air 

19 transportation, without compromising 

20 safety and efficiency of other facilities 

21 and airspace users; and 

22 (III) any potential conflicts to ex23 isting aviation infrastructure that may 

24 arise from the proposed location of 

25 the vertiport. 


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1 (vii) A description of how public-use 

2 vertiport planning will be incorporated in 

3 State or metropolitan planning documents. 

4 (viii) The identification of the process 

5 an eligible entity will undertake to ensure 

6 an adequate level of community engage7 ment for planned public-use vertiport loca8 tions and planned or anticipated AAM op9 erations, including engagement with under10 served communities, individuals with dis11 abilities, and racial and ethnic minorities, 

12 to address equity of access and other prior13 ities. 

14 (ix) The identification of the actions 

15 necessary for an eligible entity to under16 take the construction of public-use 

17 vertiports, such as planning studies to as18 sess existing infrastructure, environmental 

19 studies, studies of projected economic ben20 efit to the community, lease or acquisition 

21 of an easement or land for new infrastruc22 ture, and activities related to other capital 

23 costs. 

24 (x) The identification of State, local, 

25 or private sources of funding an eligible 


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1 entity may use to assist with the construc2 tion or operation of a public-use vertiport. 

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

4 this subsection, an eligible entity shall provide to the 

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

6 and containing such information as the Secretary 

7 may require. 

8 (4) SELECTION.— 

9 (A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

10 under this subsection, the Secretary shall con11 sider the following: 

12 (i) Geographic diversity. 

13 (ii) The need for comprehensive plans 

14 that— 

15 (I) ensure the safe integration of 

16 AAM operations into the National 

17 Airspace System; 

18 (II) improve transportation safe19 ty, connectivity, access, and equity in 

20 both rural and urban regions in the 

21 United States; 

22 (III) leverage existing public 

23 transportation systems and intermodal 

24 and multimodal facilities; 


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1 (IV) reduce surface congestion 

2 and the environmental impacts of 

3 transportation; 

4 (V) grow the economy and create 

5 jobs in the United States; and 

6 (VI) encourage community en7 gagement when planning for AAM re8 lated infrastructure. 

9 (B) PRIORITY.—The Secretary shall 

10 prioritize awarding grants under this subsection 

11 to eligible entities that partner with commercial 

12 AAM entities, institutions of higher education, 

13 research institutions, or other relevant stake14 holders to develop and prepare a comprehensive 

15 plan. 

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

17 this subsection shall be made in an amount that is 

18 not more than $1,000,000. 

19 (6) BRIEFING.— 

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

21 days after the first comprehensive plan is sub22 mitted under paragraph (2), and every 180 

23 days thereafter, the Secretary shall provide a 

24 briefing to the appropriate committees of ConVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:10 Jan 04, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6270.RDS H6270

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1 gress on the comprehensive plans submitted to 

2 the Secretary under such paragraph. 

3 (B) CONTENTS.—The briefing required 

4 under subparagraph (A) shall include— 

5 (i) an evaluation of all planned or pro6 posed public-use vertiport locations in7 cluded in the comprehensive plans sub8 mitted under paragraph (2) and how such 

9 planned or proposed public-use vertiport 

10 locations may fit into the overall United 

11 States transportation system and network; 

12 and 

13 (ii) a description of lessons or best 

14 practices learned through the review of 

15 comprehensive plans and how the Sec16 retary will incorporate any such lessons or 

17 best practices into Federal standards or 

18 guidance for the design and operation of 

19 AAM infrastructure and facilities. 

20 (c) CONSTRUCTION GRANTS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award 

22 grants to covered recipients to carry out construc23 tion activities described under paragraph (2). 

24 (2) ELIGIBLE USES.—A covered recipient may 

25 use grant funds awarded under this subsection for 


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1 design, bidding, and environmental study activities, 

2 and other capital costs, as the Secretary determines 

3 appropriate, directly related to the construction of a 

4 public-use vertiport or associated infrastructure pur5 suant to the comprehensive plan submitted by such 

6 covered recipient. 

7 (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements of sub8 sections (b) and (c) of section 47112 of title 49, 

9 United States Code, and section 50101 of such title, 

10 shall apply to a grant awarded under this sub11 section. 

12 (4) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may not 

13 award a grant under this subsection— 

14 (A) for the acquisition, conversion, or ret15 rofitting of AAM aircraft; or 

16 (B) for the construction of private-use 

17 vertiports or associated infrastructure. 

18 (5) GRANT TIMING.—The Secretary may not 

19 issue a grant under this subsection until— 

20 (A) the Administrator of the Federal Avia21 tion Administration has— 

22 (i) issued type certificates for 2 or 

23 more models of aircraft designed to provide 

24 AAM transportation; and 


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1 (ii) published an advisory circular con2 taining appropriate standards for vertiport 

3 design and performance characteristics and 

4 vertiport siting; and 

5 (B) the Secretary has— 

6 (i) determined that 2 or more AAM 

7 operators hold certificates under part 119 

8 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 

9 for such operators to perform air carrier 

10 operations covered under part 135 of such 

11 title; and 

12 (ii) issued, to 2 or more air carriers 

13 formed to provide AAM transportation, 

14 certificates under chapter 411 of title 49, 

15 United States Code. 

16 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

17 (1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to 

18 be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this 

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

20 and 2023, to remain available until expended. 

21 (2) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the 

22 amounts made available under paragraph (1), the 

23 Secretary may retain up to 1 percent for personnel, 

24 contracting, and other costs to establish and admin25 ister the pilot program under this section. 


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1 (e) TERMINATION.— 

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

3 under this section after September 30, 2023. 

4 (2) CONTINUED FUNDING.—Funds authorized 

5 to be appropriated pursuant to subsection (d) may 

6 be expended after September 30, 2023— 

7 (A) for grants awarded prior to September 

8 30, 2023; and 

9 (B) for administrative expenses. 

10 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 

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

12 ‘‘advanced air mobility’’ and ‘‘AAM’’ mean an air 

13 transportation system that transports individuals 

14 and property between points in the United States 

15 using aircraft, such as remotely piloted, autonomous, 

16 or vertical take-off and landing aircraft, including 

17 those powered by electric or hybrid driven propul18 sion, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace. 

19 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON20 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con21 gress’’ means the Committee on Transportation and 

22 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

23 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans24 portation of the Senate. 


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1 (3) COMMERCIAL AAM ENTITIES.—The term 

2 ‘‘commercial AAM entities’’ means— 

3 (A) manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, 

4 propulsion systems, and air traffic management 

5 systems related to AAM; and 

6 (B) intended commercial operators of AAM 

7 aircraft and systems. 

8 (4) COVERED RECIPIENT.—The term ‘‘covered 

9 recipient’’ means the recipient of a grant under sub10 section (b) who has submitted a comprehensive 

11 plan— 

12 (A) that has been reviewed by the Sec13 retary pursuant to subsection (b); and 

14 (B) that the Secretary has determined con15 tains proposed projects that comply with the 

16 standards for vertiport design, performance, 

17 and siting characteristics described in a pub18 lished advisory circular. 

19 (5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti20 ty’’ means— 

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

22 including a political subdivision thereof; 

23 (B) an airport sponsor; 

24 (C) a transit agency; 

25 (D) a port authority; 


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1 (E) a metropolitan planning organization; 

2 or 

3 (F) any combination or consortium of the 

4 entities described in subparagraphs (A) through 

5 (E). 

6 (6) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZA7 TION.—The term ‘‘metropolitan planning organiza8 tion’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

9 5303(b) of title 49, United States Code. 

10 (7) PUBLIC-USE VERTIPORT.—The term ‘‘pub11 lic-use vertiport’’ means a designated location used 

12 or intended to be used for public purposes and to 

13 support AAM operations, including the landing, 

14 takeoff, loading, taxiing, parking, and storage of 

15 vertical take-off and landing aircraft. 

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

17 of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puer18 to Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the 

19 Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. 

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

21 the Secretary of Transportation. 

22 (10) VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING AIR23 CRAFT.—The term ‘‘vertical take-off and landing 

24 aircraft’’ means an aircraft with lift/thrust units 

25 used to generate powered lift and control and with 


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1 2 or more lift/thrust units used to provide lift during 

2 vertical take-off or landing. 

3 SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

4 Nothing in this Act may be construed as conferring 

5 upon any person, State, local, or Tribal government the 

6 authority to determine the safety of any AAM operation 

7 or the feasibility of simultaneous operations by AAM and 

8 conventional aircraft within any given area of the National 

9 Airspace System. 

Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2022. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


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