AAIM Act
Bill: H.R.6270 | Sponsor: Rep. Larsen, Rick (D-WA)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act or the AAIM Act
This bill establishes a pilot grant program to support advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure. AAM infrastructure refers to an air transportation system that transports individuals and property between points in the United States in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace using certain aircraft, including remotely piloted, autonomous, or vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) must award planning grants for AAM infrastructure to (1) state, local, or tribal governments; (2) airport sponsors; (3) transit agencies; (4) port authorities; (5) metropolitan planning organizations; or (6) consortia of such entities. Entities that receive these grants must develop a comprehensive plan for AAM infrastructure, including vertiports (sites that support the landing, takeoff, loading, and other operations of vertical take-off and landing aircraft). Topics covered in the plan must address matters such as identifying locations for AAM infrastructure and available sources of funding. DOT must brief Congress about the plans it receives. The briefing must include an evaluation of the planned or proposed locations for vertiports and a description of best practices or lessons learned through the review of comprehensive plans.
If the Federal Aviation Administration issues type certificates for at least two aircraft models designed to provide AAM transportation and other requirements are met, DOT may award construction grants to entities that submitted comprehensive plans. Recipients may use grant funds for design, environmental studies, and other capital costs related to the construction of a public-use vertiport or associated infrastructure.
Grants may not be awarded after September 30, 2023.

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish a pilot program 
to provide grants related to advanced air mobility infrastructure, 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 Aviation Infrastructure 
Modernization Act'' or the ``AAIM Act''.

SEC. 2. ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to 
provide grants that--
            (1) assist an eligible entity to plan for the development 
        and deployment of infrastructure necessary to facilitate AAM 
        operations in the United States; and
            (2) make funding available for costs directly related to 
        construction of public-use vertiports or associated 
        infrastructure.
    (b) Planning Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide grants to 
        eligible entities to develop comprehensive plans under 
        paragraph (2) related to AAM infrastructure.
            (2) Comprehensive plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after 
                receiving a grant under this subsection, an eligible 
                entity shall submit to the Secretary a comprehensive 
                plan in a format that may be published on the website 
                of the Department of Transportation.
                    (B) Plan contents.--The Secretary shall establish 
                content requirements for comprehensive plans submitted 
                under this subsection, which may include the following:
                            (i) The identification of planned or 
                        potential public-use or private-use vertiport 
                        locations.
                            (ii) A description of infrastructure 
                        necessary to support AAM operations.
                            (iii) A description of types of planned or 
                        potential AAM operations.
                            (iv) The identification of physical and 
                        digital infrastructure required to meet the 
                        standards for vertiport design and performance 
                        characteristics established by the Federal 
                        Aviation Administration (as in effect on the 
                        date on which the Secretary issues a grant to 
                        an eligible entity), including modifications to 
                        existing infrastructure and ground sensors, 
                        electric charging and other fueling 
                        requirements, electric utility requirements, 
                        wireless and cybersecurity requirements, and 
                        other necessary hardware or software.
                            (v) A description of potential 
                        environmental effects of planned construction 
                        or siting of public-use vertiports, including 
                        efforts to reduce the adverse effects of 
                        potential aviation noise.
                            (vi) A description of how planned public-
                        use or private-use vertiport locations, 
                        including new or repurposed infrastructure, fit 
                        into existing State and local transportation 
                        systems and networks, including--
                                    (I) connectivity to existing public 
                                transportation hubs and intermodal and 
                                multimodal facilities;
                                    (II) opportunities to create new 
                                service to areas underserved by air 
                                transportation, without compromising 
                                safety and efficiency of other 
                                facilities and airspace users; and
                                    (III) any potential conflicts to 
                                existing aviation infrastructure that 
                                may arise from the proposed location of 
                                the vertiport.
                            (vii) A description of how public-use 
                        vertiport planning will be incorporated in 
                        State or metropolitan planning documents.
                            (viii) The identification of the process an 
                        eligible entity will undertake to ensure an 
                        adequate level of community engagement for 
                        planned public-use vertiport locations and 
                        planned or anticipated AAM operations, 
                        including engagement with underserved 
                        communities, individuals with disabilities, and 
                        racial and ethnic minorities, to address equity 
                        of access and other priorities.
                            (ix) The identification of the actions 
                        necessary for an eligible entity to undertake 
                        the construction of public-use vertiports, such 
                        as planning studies to assess existing 
                        infrastructure, environmental studies, studies 
                        of projected economic benefit to the community, 
                        lease or acquisition of an easement or land for 
                        new infrastructure, and activities related to 
                        other capital costs.
                            (x) The identification of State, local, or 
                        private sources of funding an eligible entity 
                        may use to assist with the construction or 
                        operation of a public-use vertiport.
            (3) Application.--To apply for a grant under this 
        subsection, an eligible entity shall provide to the Secretary 
        an application in such form, at such time, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (4) Selection.--
                    (A) In general.--In awarding grants under this 
                subsection, the Secretary shall consider the following:
                            (i) Geographic diversity.
                            (ii) The need for comprehensive plans 
                        that--
                                    (I) ensure the safe integration of 
                                AAM operations into the National 
                                Airspace System;
                                    (II) improve transportation safety, 
                                connectivity, access, and equity in 
                                both rural and urban regions in the 
                                United States;
                                    (III) leverage existing public 
                                transportation systems and intermodal 
                                and multimodal facilities;
                                    (IV) reduce surface congestion and 
                                the environmental impacts of 
                                transportation;
                                    (V) grow the economy and create 
                                jobs in the United States; and
                                    (VI) encourage community engagement 
                                when planning for AAM related 
                                infrastructure.
                    (B) Priority.--The Secretary shall prioritize 
                awarding grants under this subsection to eligible 
                entities that partner with commercial AAM entities, 
                institutions of higher education, research 
                institutions, or other relevant stakeholders to develop 
                and prepare a comprehensive plan.
            (5) Grant amount.--Each grant made under this subsection 
        shall be made in an amount that is not more than $1,000,000.
            (6) Briefing.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                first comprehensive plan is submitted under paragraph 
                (2), and every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary shall 
                provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of 
                Congress on the comprehensive plans submitted to the 
                Secretary under such paragraph.
                    (B) Contents.--The briefing required under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) an evaluation of all planned or 
                        proposed public-use vertiport locations 
                        included in the comprehensive plans submitted 
                        under paragraph (2) and how such planned or 
                        proposed public-use vertiport locations may fit 
                        into the overall United States transportation 
                        system and network; and
                            (ii) a description of lessons or best 
                        practices learned through the review of 
                        comprehensive plans and how the Secretary will 
                        incorporate any such lessons or best practices 
                        into Federal standards or guidance for the 
                        design and operation of AAM infrastructure and 
                        facilities.
    (c) Construction Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award grants to covered 
        recipients to carry out construction activities described under 
        paragraph (2).
            (2) Eligible uses.--A covered recipient may use grant funds 
        awarded under this subsection for design, bidding, and 
        environmental study activities, and other capital costs, as the 
        Secretary determines appropriate, directly related to the 
        construction of a public-use vertiport or associated 
        infrastructure pursuant to the comprehensive plan submitted by 
        such covered recipient.
            (3) Requirements.--The requirements of subsections (b) and 
        (c) of section 47112 of title 49, United States Code, and 
        section 50101 of such title, shall apply to a grant awarded 
        under this subsection.
            (4) Limitation.--The Secretary may not award a grant under 
        this subsection--
                    (A) for the acquisition, conversion, or 
                retrofitting of AAM aircraft; or
                    (B) for the construction of private-use vertiports 
                or associated infrastructure.
            (5) Grant timing.--The Secretary may not issue a grant 
        under this subsection until--
                    (A) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration has--
                            (i) issued type certificates for 2 or more 
                        models of aircraft designed to provide AAM 
                        transportation; and
                            (ii) published an advisory circular 
                        containing appropriate standards for vertiport 
                        design and performance characteristics and 
                        vertiport siting; and
                    (B) the Secretary has--
                            (i) determined that 2 or more AAM operators 
                        hold certificates under part 119 of title 14, 
                        Code of Federal Regulations, for such operators 
                        to perform air carrier operations covered under 
                        part 135 of such title; and
                            (ii) issued, to 2 or more air carriers 
                        formed to provide AAM transportation, 
                        certificates under chapter 411 of title 49, 
                        United States Code.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Secretary to carry out this section $12,500,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, to remain available until 
        expended.
            (2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts made available 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary may retain up to 1 percent 
        for personnel, contracting, and other costs to establish and 
        administer the pilot program under this section.
    (e) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--No grant may be awarded under this section 
        after September 30, 2023.
            (2) Continued funding.--Funds authorized to be appropriated 
        pursuant to subsection (d) may be expended after September 30, 
        2023--
                    (A) for grants awarded prior to September 30, 2023; 
                and
                    (B) for administrative expenses.
    (f) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air 
        mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean an air transportation system that 
        transports individuals and property between points in the 
        United States using aircraft, such as remotely piloted, 
        autonomous, or vertical take-off and landing aircraft, 
        including those powered by electric or hybrid driven 
        propulsion, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
        Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate.
            (3) Commercial aam entities.--The term ``commercial AAM 
        entities'' means--
                    (A) manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, propulsion 
                systems, and air traffic management systems related to 
                AAM; and
                    (B) intended commercial operators of AAM aircraft 
                and systems.
            (4) Covered recipient.--The term ``covered recipient'' 
        means the recipient of a grant under subsection (b) who has 
        submitted a comprehensive plan--
                    (A) that has been reviewed by the Secretary 
                pursuant to subsection (b); and
                    (B) that the Secretary has determined contains 
                proposed projects that comply with the standards for 
                vertiport design, performance, and siting 
                characteristics described in a published advisory 
                circular.
            (5) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a State, local, or Tribal government, including 
                a political subdivision thereof;
                    (B) an airport sponsor;
                    (C) a transit agency;
                    (D) a port authority;
                    (E) a metropolitan planning organization; or
                    (F) any combination or consortium of the entities 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
            (6) Metropolitan planning organization.--The term 
        ``metropolitan planning organization'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 5303(b) of title 49, United States Code.
            (7) Public-use vertiport.--The term ``public-use 
        vertiport'' means a designated location used or intended to be 
        used for public purposes and to support AAM operations, 
        including the landing, takeoff, loading, taxiing, parking, and 
        storage of vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
            (8) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 
        Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
        Guam.
            (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Transportation.
            (10) Vertical take-off and landing aircraft.--The term 
        ``vertical take-off and landing aircraft'' means an aircraft 
        with lift/thrust units used to generate powered lift and 
        control and with 2 or more lift/thrust units used to provide 
        lift during vertical take-off or landing.

SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act may be construed as conferring upon any person, 
State, local, or Tribal government the authority to determine the 
safety of any AAM operation or the feasibility of simultaneous 
operations by AAM and conventional aircraft within any given area of 
the National Airspace System.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 13, 2022.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.