Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
Bill: H.R.1339 | Sponsor: Rep. Davids, Sharice (D-KS)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation to establish an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) interagency working group to plan and coordinate efforts related to the safety, operations, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity, and federal investment necessary to bolster the AAM ecosystem in the United States. Advanced Air Mobility  refers to a transportation system that transports people and property by air between two points in the United States using aircraft, including electric aircraft or electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish an advanced air 
      mobility interagency working group, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Air Mobility Coordination 
and Leadership Act''.

SEC. 2. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY WORKING GROUP.

    (a) Working Group.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall establish 
an advanced air mobility interagency working group (in this section 
referred to as the ``working group'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the working group established under 
subsection (a) shall be to plan and coordinate efforts related to the 
safety, operations, infrastructure, physical security, cybersecurity, 
and Federal investment necessary for maturation of the AAM ecosystem in 
the United States. It is critical that Government agencies collaborate 
in order to enhance United States leadership, develop new 
transportation options, amplify economic activity and jobs, advance 
environmental sustainability and new technologies, and support 
emergency preparedness and competitiveness.
    (c) Membership.--Not later than 60 days after the establishment of 
the working group under subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation 
shall--
            (1) appoint the Under Secretary of Transportation for 
        Policy to chair the working group;
            (2) designate not less than one additional representative 
        to participate on the working group from each of--
                    (A) the Department of Transportation; and
                    (B) the Federal Aviation Administration; and
            (3) invite the heads of each of the following departments 
        or agencies to designate not less than 1 representative to 
        participate on the working group, including--
                    (A) the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration;
                    (B) the Department of Defense;
                    (C) the Department of Energy;
                    (D) the Department of Homeland Security;
                    (E) the Department of Commerce;
                    (F) the Federal Communications Commission; and
                    (G) such other departments or agencies as the 
                Secretary of Transportation determines appropriate.
    (d) Coordination.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation and 
        Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
        coordinate with aviation industry and labor stakeholders, 
        stakeholder associations, and others determined appropriate by 
        the Secretary of Transportation and the Administrator of the 
        Federal Aviation Administration, including the following:
                    (A) Manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, propulsion 
                systems, and air traffic management systems.
                    (B) Intended operators of AAM aircraft.
                    (C) Commercial air carriers, commercial operators, 
                and general aviation operators, including helicopter 
                operators.
                    (D) Airports, heliports, and fixed-base operators.
                    (E) Aviation training and maintenance providers.
                    (F) Certified labor representatives of pilots, air 
                traffic control specialists employed by the Federal 
                Aviation Administration, aircraft mechanics, and 
                aviation safety inspectors.
                    (G) State, local, and Tribal officials or public 
                agencies.
                    (H) First responders.
                    (I) Groups representing environmental interests.
                    (J) Electric utilities, energy providers, energy 
                market operators, and wireless providers.
                    (K) Unmanned aircraft system operators and service 
                suppliers.
                    (L) Groups representing consumer interests.
                    (M) Groups representing the interests of taxpayers.
            (2) Advisory committees.--The Secretary of Transportation 
        and Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may 
        use such Federal advisory committees as may be appropriate to 
        coordinate with the entities listed in paragraph (1).
    (e) Review and Examination.--Not later than 1 year after the 
establishment of the working group under subsection (a), the working 
group shall complete a review and examination of, at a minimum--
            (1) steps that will mature AAM aircraft operations, 
        concepts, and regulatory frameworks beyond initial operations;
            (2) safety requirements and physical and cybersecurity 
        involved with future air traffic management concepts which may 
        be considered as part of the evolution of AAM to higher levels 
        of traffic density;
            (3) current Federal programs and policies that may be 
        leveraged to advance the maturation of the AAM industry;
            (4) infrastructure, including aviation, multimodal, 
        cybersecurity, and utility infrastructure, necessary to 
        accommodate and support expanded operations of AAM after 
        initial implementation;
            (5) anticipated benefits associated with AAM aircraft 
        operations, including economic, environmental, emergency and 
        natural disaster response, and transportation benefits; and
            (6) other factors that may limit the full potential of the 
        AAM industry, including community acceptance of AAM operations.
    (f) Plan and Recommendations.--Based on the review and examination 
performed under subsection (e), the working group shall develop--
            (1) recommendations regarding the safety, operations, 
        security, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and other Federal 
        investment or actions necessary to support the evolution of 
        early AAM to higher levels of activity and societal benefit; 
        and
            (2) a comprehensive plan detailing the roles and 
        responsibilities of each Federal department or agency to 
        facilitate or implement the recommendations in paragraph (1).
    (g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the 
review and examination completed under subsection (e), the working 
group shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report that--
            (1) details the review and examination performed under 
        subsection (e); and
            (2) provides the plan and recommendations developed under 
        subsection (f).
    (h) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air 
        mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean a transportation system that 
        transports people and property by air between two points in the 
        United States using aircraft, including electric aircraft or 
        electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, in both 
        controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
            (2) Electric aircraft.--The term ``electric aircraft'' 
        means an aircraft with a fully electric or hybrid (fuel and 
        electric) driven propulsion system used for flight.
            (3) Fixed-base operator.--The term ``fixed-base operator'' 
        means a business granted the right by an airport sponsor or 
        heliport sponsor to operate on an airport or heliport and 
        provide aeronautical services, including fueling and charging, 
        aircraft hangaring, tiedown and parking, aircraft rental, 
        aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code.
            (5) Vertical take-off and landing.--The term ``vertical 
        take-off and landing'' means an aircraft with lift/thrust units 
        used to generate powered lift and control and with two or more 
        lift/thrust units used to provide lift during vertical take-off 
        or landing.

            Passed the House of Representatives November 4, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.