AAM: Entry into Service
August 3, 2023 | AUVSI Advocacy
The final day of the AAM Summit, co-hosted by FAA and AUVSI, began with a morning plenary session featuring Jessica Sypniewski, Deputy Assistant Administrator of FAA’s NextGen (ANG-2) and Dr. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro, Assistant Director for Spacy Policy at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Sypniewski discussed the progress that the FAA has made in the AAM space, pointing to the proposed rulemaking for pilots, the implementation plan for initial operations and type certifications. Dr. Uzo-Okoro touched on the interagency working group and the benefits of comprehensive and nationwide integration into the national airspace system (NAS), including connecting communities and improving crisis management. As she said, “When we see the opportunity to bolster the economy with new, well-paying jobs and to improve the lives of Americans nationwide, we see this as a no brainer.”
The session continued with a panel on the path forward for AAM aircraft and operations. Speakers included David Boulter, FAA’s Associate Administrator (A) for Aviation Safety; Shannetta Griffin, FAA’s Associate Administrator for Airports; Katrina Hall, FAA’s Deputy COO for National Airspace System Programs and Support; John Maffei, FAA’s Director of Portfolio Management and Technology Development (Acting); and Annie Petsonk, DOT’s Assistant Secretary for Aviation & International Affairs.
The panelists emphasized that the approach to AAM is intergovernmental, with work being done through the Interagency Working Group (IWG) and breakout groups within it. The group touched on the Innovate28 plan, stating that the initiative is looking for full integration at the Olympics in ‘28, but that they are looking to get aircraft into the NAS by 2025 and to scale up.
Panelists discussed policies that will be needed for integration, including energy policies to promote sustainable components in these low-carbon aircraft. They also touched on the need for a policy effort to engage all levels of stakeholders – not just at the federal level but also with localities and cities to support community integration.
The conversation continued with a discussion of the need for engagement, communication, and collaboration between government and industry. Early alignment between government and innovators is critical, as the better informed the agencies are, the better they are with writing policies and regulations.
The session finished with some notes on the biggest challenges facing integration – mentioning safety in both the integration into the NAS and into the communities, balancing the needs and interests of all stakeholders, and educating the public. The panelists highlighted the challenge posed by the high degrees of automation already in the space as well, stating that usually with certification there are iterative changes, but the industry is making major technological leaps so it must be done right.
