The Alliance for Aviation Across America has applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 6270, the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, by a bipartisan vote of 338-73.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Larsen (D-WA), Graves (R-LA), and Titus (D-NV), would authorize planning and construction grants to support advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure development. Through this program, communities can create integrated plans for AAM operations and invest in the infrastructure needed to support future scaled-up operations, including new takeoff and landing facilities known as “vertiports,” and associated infrastructure that will bring AAM operations directly to communities and leverage existing multimodal facilities and transit hubs.
“Virtually every industry, business, and community in America depends on aviation, and general aviation, for the transport of goods and personnel, medical care, and disaster response, among many other benefits,” said Selena Shilad, Executive Director, Alliance for Aviation Across America. “While the industry has made many important investments in these priorities, federal support is now needed to bring these goals to fruition.”
The new and innovative AAM sector will use highly automated electric and vertical take-off and landing vehicles to facilitate new transportation options, which will create jobs and economic activity, advance environmental sustainability through the development of new technologies, and support emergency preparedness and competitiveness. A recent study found that the market for AAM in the U.S. is estimated to reach $115 billion annually by 2035 and is expected to benefit urban, suburban, and rural communities.
“We also urge the U.S. Senate to pass S.246, which was introduced by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), and approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation last month.”
General aviation and local airports support more than 1.1 million American jobs, an economic impact of $247 billion per year, and numerous critical services, such as disaster response, law enforcement, medical transport, search and rescue, crop protection, powerline maintenance, and passenger and goods transport.