[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62594-62595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Drone Advisory Committee: Notice of Solicitation of Nominations 
for Appointment to the Newly Proposed Advanced Aviation Advisory 
Committee (AAAC)--Previously Known as Drone Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for appointment to the Advanced 
Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC).

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a solicitation for nominations for 
membership on the Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC)--
previously known as Drone Advisory Committee. This solicitation 
supersedes the previous Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to 
the Drone Advisory Committee published June 18, 2020.

DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 6:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time on January 10, 2022. Nominations received after the above due date 
may be retained for evaluation for future AAAC vacancies after all 
other nominations received by the due date have been evaluated and 
considered.

ADDRESSES: Nominations can be submitted electronically (by email) to 
Kamisha Walker in the FAA's UAS Integration Office, at 
[email protected]. The subject line should state ``2022 AAAC 
Nomination.'' The body of the email must contain content or attachments 
that address all requirements as specified in the below ``Materials to 
Submit'' section. Incomplete/partial submittals as well as those that 
exceed the specified document length may not be considered for 
evaluation. An email confirmation from the FAA will be sent upon 
receipt of all complete nominations that meet the criteria in the 
``Materials to Submit'' section. Anyone wishing to submit an 
application by paper may do so by contacting Kamisha Walker at 
[email protected] or by calling 202-267-4441. The FAA will notify 
those appointed by the Secretary to serve on the AAAC in writing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kamisha Walker at 
[email protected] or by calling 202-267-4441. Additional 
information on the AAAC, including the current roster, charter, and 
previous meeting minutes may be found at: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/advanced_aviation_advisory_committee/.

[[Page 62595]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The AAAC is an advisory committee established under DOT's 
authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) as amended, Public Law 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. 
The objective of the AAAC is to provide independent advice and 
recommendations to the FAA and in response to specific taskings 
received directly from the FAA. The advice, recommendations, and 
taskings relate to improving the efficiency and safety of integrating 
advanced aviation technologies--including unmanned aircraft systems 
(UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM), into the National Airspace 
System (NAS)--while equipping and enabling communities to inform how 
UAS, AAM and other technologies may operate in ways that are least 
impactful to those communities. In response to FAA requests, the AAAC 
may provide the FAA with information that may be used for tactical and 
strategic planning purposes.
    This notice seeks to fill current and future vacancies on the AAAC 
and does not affect the status of AAAC members whose terms have not 
expired.

Description of Duties

    The AAAC acts solely in an advisory capacity and does not exercise 
program management responsibilities. Decisions directly affecting 
implementation of transportation policy will remain with the FAA 
Administrator and the Secretary of Transportation. The AAAC duties 
include:
    a. Undertaking tasks only assigned by the FAA.
    b. Deliberating on and approving recommendations for assigned tasks 
in meetings that are open to the public.
    c. Responding to ad hoc informational requests from the FAA and/or 
providing input to the FAA on the overall AAAC structure (including 
structure of the subcommittees and or task groups).
    Membership: The FAA will submit recommendations for membership to 
the Secretary of Transportation, who will appoint members to the AAAC. 
The membership must be equitably balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the functions performed. The stakeholder groups 
represented on the AAAC include the following:

a. Airports and Airport Communities
b. Labor (controllers, pilots)
c. Local, State, Tribal and/or Territorial Government or Appropriate 
International Entity
d. Navigation, Communication, Surveillance, and Air Traffic Management 
Capability Providers
e. Research, Development, and Academia
f. Traditional Manned Aviation Operators
g. UAS Hardware Component Manufacturers
h. UAS Manufacturers
i. Corporate UAS Operators
j. Citizen UAS Operators
k. UAS Software Application Manufacturers
l. Agricultural Interests
m. Advanced Air Mobility
n. Community Advocate
o. Industry Associations or other specific areas of interest

    All AAAC members serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of 
Transportation. To the extent practicable, the membership of the AAAC 
shall include persons of diverse backgrounds in race, ethnicity, 
religion, sexual orientation, and gender. The AAAC will have no more 
than 41 members. Other membership terms include:
    a. An appointment of up to two years.
    b. Service without charge and without government compensation. 
Representation of a particular interest of employment, education, 
experience, or affiliation with a specific aviation related 
organization.
    c. Ability to attend all AAAC meetings (estimated three meetings 
per year).
    Qualifications: Candidates must be in good public standing and 
currently serve as a member of their organization's core senior 
leadership team with the ability to make decisions on UAS or AAM 
related matters. In rare circumstances, membership may be granted to 
uniquely qualified individuals who do not meet the previous 
requirement. Members appointed solely for their individual expertise 
will serve as Special Government Employees.
    Materials to Submit: Candidates are required to submit, in full, 
the following materials to be considered for AAAC membership. Failure 
to submit the required information may disqualify a candidate from the 
review process.
    a. A short biography of the nominee, including professional and 
academic credentials.
    b. A r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae, which must include 
relevant job experience, qualifications, as well as contact information 
(email, telephone, and mailing address).
    c. A one-page statement describing how the candidate will benefit 
the AAAC, considering current membership and the candidate's unique 
perspective that will advance the conversation. This statement must 
also identify a primary and secondary interest to which the candidate's 
expertise best aligns. Finally, candidates should state their previous 
experience on Federal Advisory Committees and/or Aviation Rulemaking 
Committees (if any), their level of knowledge in their above 
stakeholder groups, and the size of their constituency they represent 
or are able to reach.
    Up to three letters of recommendation may be submitted but are not 
required. Each letter may be no longer than one page. Evaluations will 
be based on the materials submitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Erik W. Amend,
Manager, Executive Office, AUS-10, UAS Integration Office, Federal 
Aviation Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-24512 Filed 11-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P