States urge more federal coordination amid growth of new aviation options

It’s been a busy few months for the air taxis, delivery planes and other vehicles that make up the advanced air mobility — or AAM — space.

Air taxi company Archer recently announced plans for an air taxi network in Miami, and said it would be the official air taxi partner for Los Angeles ahead of launching planned flights before the 2028 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Joby Aviation announced in September it would bring air mobility services to the Uber app and pledged to do so as soon as next year.

And the federal government has looked to boost the burgeoning technology, which futuristically envisions riders being able to hail an electric vertical takeoff and landing — known as eVTOL — vehicles that can fly them between various hubs, including airports. In September, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a pilot program to build public-private partnerships with state and local governments and businesses to develop regulations and other frameworks for safe operation of the vehicles.

That collaboration between the feds and state and local governments was a key focus of a hearing last week held by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation. While the FAA is responsible for managing the nation’s airspace, states and cities will play more of a role as air taxis and other AAM vehicles take to the skies, and roles need to be clearly defined to avoid chaos, speakers at the hearing said.

“Whether it’s electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles or more conventional aircraft using alternative propulsion, this advanced technology has the potential to improve mobility options — particularly in dense urban environments like Indianapolis — boost local businesses and job opportunities and reduce surface congestion,” Rep. Andre Carson, an Indiana Democrat and the subcommittee’s ranking member, said in his opening remarks. “But to make this vision a reality, we must ensure all stakeholders — including labor, state governments and impacted local communities and legacy airspace users — remain at the table.”

Getting to a point of closer collaboration on airspace will be a challenge, however. All 50 states already have aviation agencies, and some states came together several years ago within the National Association of State Aviation Officials to form the AAM Multistate Collaborative, which now has nearly 40 participating states. Many have also set up task forces to study AAM’s impact.

“States are uniquely positioned to serve as a facilitator to balance federal, state, local, industry, and public interests, while advancing policies that support all stakeholders and enable industry growth,” Gregory Pecoraro, president and CEO of the National Association Of State Aviation Officials, said in his written subcommittee testimony.

He noted that there are already various areas of agreement, including in policy harmonization and states’ recognition of the FAA’s preemptive role in leading the nation’s airspace as it prepares for AAM. Pecoraro also noted states’ “crucial role” in defining and implementing the minimum service levels for infrastructure, which would be the threshold at which it can support safe, reliable service. And he said general aviation airports are “well positioned” to help support AAM operations.

But more work lies ahead if states are to take advantage of an industry that is projected to result in billions of dollars in investment and revenue in the coming decade. Individual states are also excited to reap the benefits, including by helping people get around major events or as a way to boost their delivery and logistics businesses.

One of the biggest tasks will be encouraging even greater collaboration and coordination between the FAA and state aviation agencies, which Pecoraro said could be helped with a formal working group “to collaboratively rethink how we modernize our aviation system to accommodate these new operations.”

“States are on the ground, they understand their communities, infrastructure constraints, and what is operationally feasible,” he said. “A collaborative federal-state approach will ensure that national policies align with local realities. We also urge Congress to encourage and support the FAA in deepening this partnership with states, as doing so will be essential to successful integration.”

Pecoraro said the FAA and states could work closely together on establishing standards and guidance around planning and infrastructure, especially for the charging stations and the landing and takeoff areas for the new aircraft. And he urged further investment in general aviation airports to support AAM, as well as a public awareness campaign to educate residents about the coming technology. He said the drone sightings in New Jersey last year “illustrate how a low information environment about emerging technologies can lead to misunderstandings and public anxiety.” But there are plenty of opportunities ahead, he added.

“Looking forward, the prospect of widespread AAM integration into aviation creates the opportunity to rethink transportation,” Pecoraro said. “As aerial point to point transportation for people, goods and services becomes a reality we will need to think about daily transportation in three dimensions.”