[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1339 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1339
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 15, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
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.