[117th Congress Public Law 203]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 2227]]
Public Law 117-203
117th Congress
An Act
To plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate advanced air mobility
aircraft into the national airspace system, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 17, 2022 - [S. 516]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Advanced Air
Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act.>>
SECTION <<NOTE: 49 USC 40101 note.>> 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Advanced Air Mobility Coordination
and Leadership Act''
SEC. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 49 USC 40101 note.>> 2. ADVANCED AIR
MOBILITY WORKING GROUP.
(a) <<NOTE: Establishment.>> 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) Purpose.--Advanced Air Mobility represents a key area of
sustainable transportation and economic growth for the United States and
it is imperative that the Federal Government foster leadership and
interagency collaboration in the adoption and deployment of this
technology. <<NOTE: Plan. Coordination.>> The purpose of the working
group established under this section shall be to plan for and coordinate
efforts related to safety, operations, infrastructure, physical security
and cybersecurity, and Federal investment necessary for maturation of
the AAM ecosystem in the United States, particularly passenger-carrying
aircraft, in order to--
(1) grow new transportation options;
(2) amplify economic activity and jobs;
(3) advance environmental sustainability and new
technologies; and
(4) support emergency preparedness and competitiveness.
(c) <<NOTE: Designations.>> Membership.--Not later than 60 days
after the establishment of the working group under subsection (a), the
Secretary of Transportation shall--
(1) <<NOTE: Appointment.>> appoint the Under Secretary of
Transportation for Policy to chair the working group;
(2) designate not less than 1 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 Commerce;
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(C) the Department of Defense;
(D) the Department of Energy;
(E) the Department of Homeland Security;
(F) the Department of Agriculture;
(G) the Department of Labor;
(H) the Federal Communications Commission; and
(I) such other departments or agencies as the
Secretary of Transportation determines appropriate.
(d) Coordination.--
(1) <<NOTE: Determination.>> In general.--The working group
shall engage with State, local, and Tribal governments, 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--
(A) manufacturers of aircraft, avionics, propulsion
systems, structures, and air traffic management systems;
(B) commercial air carriers, commercial operators,
unmanned aircraft system operators, and general aviation
operators, including helicopter operators;
(C) intended operators of AAM aircraft;
(D) airports, heliports, fixed-base operators;
(E) certified labor representatives for pilots
associations, air traffic control specialists employed
by the Federal Aviation Administration, aircraft
mechanics, and aviation safety inspectors;
(F) State, local, and Tribal officials or public
agencies, with representation from both urban and rural
areas;
(G) first responders;
(H) groups representing environmental interests;
(I) electric utilities, energy providers and energy
market operators;
(J) academia with experience working with industry
on new technology and commercialization;
(K) groups representing the telecommunications
industry; and
(L) aviation training and maintenance providers.
(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 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 aircraft operations,
concepts, and regulatory frameworks beyond initial operations;
(2) the air traffic management and safety 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, cybersecurity,
telecommunication, multimodal, and utility infrastructure,
necessary to accommodate and support expanded operations of AAM
after initial implementation;
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(5) steps needed to ensure a robust and secure domestic
supply chain;
(6) anticipated benefits associated with AAM aircraft
operations, including economic, environmental, emergency and
natural disaster 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.
(f) AAM National Strategy.--Based on the review and examination
performed under subsection (e), the working group shall develop an AAM
National Strategy that includes--
(1) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> recommendations regarding
the safety, operations, 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) <<NOTE: Plan.>> a comprehensive plan detailing the roles
and responsibilities of each Federal department and agency, and
of State, local, and Tribal governments, necessary to facilitate
or implement the recommendations developed under paragraph (1).
(g) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the
review and examination performed under subsection (e), the working group
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report--
(1) detailing findings from the review and examination
performed under subsection (e); and
(2) providing the AAM National Strategy, including the plan
and associated recommendations developed under subsection (f).
(h) <<NOTE: Notification.>> 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 (g), 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.
(i) Definitions.--For purposes of this section and section 3:
(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 with advanced technologies,
including electric aircraft or electric vertical take-off and
landing aircraft, in both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
(3) Electric aircraft.--The term ``electric aircraft'' means
an aircraft with a fully electric or hybrid (fuel and electric)
driven propulsion system used for flight.
(4) 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
[[Page 136 STAT. 2230]]
provide aeronautical services, including fueling and charging,
aircraft hangaring, tiedown and parking, aircraft rental,
aircraft maintenance, and flight instruction.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such
term in section 47102 of title 49, United States Code.
(6) 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.
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) <<NOTE: Review.>> 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.
Approved October 17, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 516 (H.R. 1339):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-158 (Comm. on Transportation and Infrastructure)
accompanying H.R. 1339.
SENATE REPORTS: No. 117-53 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Mar. 23, considered and passed Senate.
June 13, 14, considered and passed House, amended.
Sept. 21, Senate concurred in House amendment.
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