[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 516 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 516
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced air mobility
aircraft into the national airspace system, 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) In General.--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) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that Advanced
Air Mobility (AAM) represents a key area of sustainable transportation
and economic growth for the United States and globally, and that it is
imperative that the United States take a leadership role in the
adoption and furtherance of this technology. Therefore, given the path
to initial operations is taking place utilizing today's regulatory
framework, it is critical that government agencies collaborate and
focus on taking this vital industry to the next level through policy
and investment in energy, infrastructure, security and transportation.
The focus of the working group is interagency coordination to enable
the maturation and growth of AAM.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the working group established under
this section is to plan for and coordinate efforts related to safety,
infrastructure, physical security and cybersecurity, and Federal
investment necessary for maturation of the AAM ecosystem, particularly
passenger-carrying aircraft, in the United States in order to--
(1) further United States leadership;
(2) grow new transportation options;
(3) amplify economic activity and jobs;
(4) advance environmental sustainability and new
technologies; and
(5) support emergency preparedness and competitiveness.
(d) Membership.--The working group shall be comprised of at least 1
representative of each of the following Federal departments and
agencies:
(1) Department of Transportation.
(2) Federal Aviation Administration.
(3) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(4) Department of Commerce
(5) Department of Defense.
(6) Department of Energy.
(7) Department of Homeland Security.
(8) Department of Agriculture.
(9) Department of Labor.
(10) Federal Communications Commission.
(11) Such other departments or agencies as the Secretary of
Transportation determines appropriate.
(e) Coordination.--The working group shall engage with State,
local, and Tribal governments, industry and labor stakeholders,
stakeholder associations, and others determined appropriate by the
Secretary of Transportation, including--
(1) manufacturers of avionics, AAM use aircraft, propulsion
systems, structures, and air traffic management systems;
(2) air carriers, commercial operators, general aviation
operators and future AAM operators;
(3) airports;
(4) fixed-based operators, as defined in FAA Advisory
Circular 150/5190-7;
(5) certified labor representatives for pilots
associations, air traffic control specialists employed by the
Federal Aviation Administration, and aviation safety
inspectors;
(6) State, local, and Tribal officials or public agencies,
with representation from both urban and rural areas;
(7) first responders;
(8) groups representing environmental interests;
(9) electric utilities, energy providers and market
operators of electricity;
(10) academia with experience working with industry on new
technology and commercialization;
(11) groups representing the telecommunications industry;
and
(12) aviation training and maintenance providers.
(f) Review and Examination.--Not later than 1 year after the
working group is established under subsection (a), the working group
shall complete a review and examination of, at a minimum--
(1) the steps that will mature AAM past initial operations;
(2) the evaluation of air traffic control and management
concepts that might be considered as part of evolving AAM to
higher levels of traffic density;
(3) current Federal programs and policies that could be
leveraged to advance the maturation of the AAM industry;
(4) infrastructure, including aviation, surface, energy,
and telecommunications infrastructure, physical security and
cybersecurity, and utilities necessary to accommodate and
support expanded operations of AAM after initial
implementation;
(5) steps needed to ensure a robust domestic supply chain;
(6) anticipated benefits associated with AAM aircraft
operations, including economic, environmental, emergency
response, and transportation benefits;
(7) the interests, roles, and responsibilities of Federal,
State, local, and Tribal governments affected by AAM aircraft
operations; and
(8) other factors that may limit the full potential of the
AAM industry, including community acceptance or restrictions of
such operations.
(g) AAM National Strategy.--Based on the review and examination
performed under subsection (f), the working group shall develop an AAM
National Strategy that includes--
(1) recommendations regarding the safety, security,
infrastructure, air traffic concepts, 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 and agency, and of
State, local, and Tribal governments, necessary to facilitate
implementing the recommendations developed under paragraph (1).
(h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the
review and examination performed under subsection (f), the working
group shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report--
(1) detailing the review and examination performed under
subsection (f); and
(2) providing the AAM National Strategy, including the plan
and associated recommendations, developed under subsection (g).
(i) Evaluation of Termination of Working Group.--Not later than 30
days after the date on which the working group submits the report
required under subsection (h), the Secretary of Transportation shall
evaluate and decide whether to terminate the working group and shall
notify the appropriate committees of Congress of such decision.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air
mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean an air transportation system that
moves people and cargo between places using innovative aircraft
designs (such as vertical take-off and landing (VTOL)) and new
technologies (such as electric or hybrid (fuel and electric)
driven propulsion), which are integrated into existing airspace
operations as well as operated in local, regional,
intraregional, rural, and urban environments, and which may
include remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Vertical take-off and landing; vtol.--The terms
``vertical take-off and landing'' and ``VTOL'' mean an aircraft
with lift/thrust units used to generate powered lift and
control and with more than two lift/thrust units used to
provide lift during vertical take-off or landing.
SEC. 3. GAO STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall--
(1) conduct a study on the interests, roles, and
responsibilities of Federal, State, local, and Tribal
governments affected by AAM aircraft and operations; and
(2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the study, including the Comptroller General's
findings and conclusions.
(b) Requirements.--In conducting the study required under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall review the following:
(1) The state of the law as of the enactment of this Act
with respect to Federal authority over operations of AAM
aircraft systems in the national airspace system.
(2) The state of the law as of the enactment of this Act
with respect to State, local, and Tribal authority over
operations of AAM aircraft in the national airspace system.
(3) Potential gaps between authorities under paragraphs (1)
and (2).
(4) Proposals to facilitate the safe and financially viable
growth and development of the AAM industry and integration of
AAM aircraft into the national airspace system.
Passed the Senate March 23, 2022.
Attest:
Secretary.
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 516
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced air mobility
aircraft into the national airspace system, and for other purposes.