NBAA Offers Guidance on Advanced Air Mobility Integration Initiatives
In a recent statement, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has addressed two crucial initiatives aimed toward facilitating the protected and seamless integration of advanced air mobility (AAM) into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).
Drawing from insights gathered through its AAM Roundtable and Emerging Technology Committee, NBAA has provided beneficial input to government agencies concerning proposals that hold implications for pilots, manufacturers, infrastructure developers, and various stakeholders.
The primary initiative involves NBAA’s response to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the “Integration of Powered-Lift: Pilot Certification and Operations; Miscellaneous Amendments Related to Rotorcraft and Airplanes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).” This endeavor goals to ascertain transition regulations, or Special Federal Aviation Regulations (SFAR), for pilot certification and operating rules to enable the commencement of services. (See the proposed rule here.)
Collaborating with organizations including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Helicopter Association International, the National Air Transportation Association, and the Vertical Flight Society, NBAA has expressed several concerns pertaining to the proposal. Moreover, they’ve outlined practical suggestions to make sure protected pilot qualification and operations.
The concerned parties have highlighted that the proposal deviates from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for airman certification, placing undue burdens on powered-lift manufacturers and operators and introducing impractical mandates for powered-lift aircraft equipped with a single set of controls. Moreover, the suggested rule fails to align with ICAO guidance regarding operational rules, limiting operators from fully utilizing the capabilities of those aircraft.
In line with the associations’ collective commentary, “Unfortunately, this NPRM doesn’t empower the event of powered-lift aircraft with the potential described by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The proposal for airman qualification creates a barrier for many AAM aircraft manufacturers to enter the U.S. market and the proposed operations rules create an uneven playing field for powered-lift aircraft, failing to make the most of the numerous advantages provided by vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.”
The associations stress that aligning with ICAO standards will enable U.S. manufacturers and operators to fulfill the projected operations launch timeline in 2025 and ensure a thriving AAM industry in the US for years to return.
NBAA Cautions IWG: Competition is “Fierce and Rapidly Advancing”
The second initiative involves NBAA’s dual-pronged recommendations to the Department of Transportation’s AAM Interagency Working Group (IWG), which was established following the passage of the Advanced Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act in October 2022.
As stated within the Request for Information (RFI), “Because the IWG knows, the U.S. has been on the forefront of aviation leadership and innovation for a long time. We’ve got the potential to proceed to guide the subsequent phase within the evolution of aviation with AAM, but competition with other nations is fierce and rapidly advancing. Amongst other considerations, this implies the FAA might want to keep pace with its promised regulatory schedule, in order that the primary AAM industrial operations can occur as soon as 2025.”
NBAA has underscored the paramount importance of safety while advocating for the timely and thoughtful introduction of AAM services. In the long run, the association has urged the agency to collaborate closely with stakeholders to facilitate gradual scaling of AAM operations. Moreover, NBAA has emphasized the necessity to foster community acceptance and address potential concerns stemming from the combination of on-demand air mobility services into the present aviation system.
The RFI outlines, “The trail to realizing the goals of advanced air mobility is a fancy and multifaceted endeavor. Nonetheless, by upholding a steadfast commitment to security, adhering to regulatory timelines, harnessing existing infrastructure and fostering community acceptance, we will pave the way in which for a future where the skies are usually not just an emblem of boundless potential but a tangible and integrated component of our modern transportation landscape.”
Highlighting the importance of this united industry approach for federal AAM planning, NBAA Chief Operating Officer Chris Rocheleau has emphasized that “Taken together, the industry’s input on these two key initiatives will inform the work needed to make sure that the U.S. stays the world’s leader in fostering the event, integration, and utilization of promising advanced air mobility technologies.”
View NBAA’s full comments here.
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