White House Advanced Air Mobility Summit: Takeaways for Industry

August 10, 2022

On August 3rd, the White House hosted a Summit on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). While AAM was the focus of the Summit, discussions also centered around more traditional Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) issues, in addition to Counter-UAS issues in light of the Administration’s Counter-UAS Action Plan. AUVSI was honored to be able to attend this historic event and thanks the Biden Administration, and specifically the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), for organizing this Summit and inviting key industry stakeholders to share their views. Below are AUVSI’s top takeaways from the Summit:

The U.S. Must Maintain Aviation Leadership and Competitiveness in the 21st Century
Participants from government, industry, and academia agreed that the U.S. cannot afford to cede leadership and innovation in the aviation and tech industries to other nations. They also discussed the importance of ensuring that the U.S. remains the most forward-thinking nation on new aviation technologies.

Dr. Alondra Nelson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Acting Director of OSTP, said there needs to be a futuristic outlook that envisions how science and technology can create a safe and equitable world for all. She emphasized that inaction would force industries and manufacturers to move abroad – hampering the U.S. from unlocking innovative and profitable technologies.
Former U.S. Senator and current NASA Administrator Bill Nelson concurred that one of NASA’s central responsibilities is to build and maintain the airspace of the future.

Dr. Monica Gorman, Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Commerce, explained that as these industries become more popular, the U.S. needs to help make them more globally competitive. She voiced her concern that an overreliance on foreign technology would become an economic and national security problem over time.

JoeBen Bevirt and Adam Bry, the Chief Executive Officers of AUVSI Members Joby Aviation and Skydio, respectively, called for increased domestic production of drones and AAM aircraft — efforts that AUVSI’s Advocacy team has been actively pushing for in Congress.

AAM Holds Immense Value for the Public and Public Acceptance is Key
Both government speakers and Summit industry participants alike shared their visions for a world where AAM and drones provide broad and lasting economic and social benefit, and continuously noted the challenges with, and need for, public acceptance.

Public safety: NASA Administrator Nelson mentioned NASA’s capability to support first responders reach underserved areas which will greatly help amidst hurricane and wildfire seasons that impact millions of Americans each year.

Equity: FAA Acting Administrator Billy Nolen remarked, “AAM could eventually be a more equitable form of transportation, as it has the potential to connect underserved and rural communities with larger cities.” Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton also emphasized the valuable impact UAS and AAM will have on rural tribal members whose quality of life stands to benefit from expanded access to numerous services.

Workforce: Acting Administrator Nolen also said AAM has the potential to create thousands of jobs across the country. These were themes that AUVSI discussed with Acting Administrator Nolen when he recently spoke to our Air Advocacy Committee.

Sustainability: Carlos Monje, Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy at USDOT, an official whom AUVSI has engaged with on several occasions, said that delivering a more sustainable transportation system to the American public is a priority.

Challenges and Opportunities Lie Ahead
Summit participants from industry and government identified logistical issues both stakeholders and the federal government must address to realize the full benefits of AAM and UAS while maintaining the highest standard of aviation safety, including:

Noise reduction

Infrastructure investment

Sustainable energy and climate-neutral propulsion

Spectrum availability

Civil regulators discussed several policy bottlenecks and bumps in the road on the way to scaled integration of UAS and AAM aircraft into our National Airspace System (NAS):

NASA Administrator Nelson said his agency has opened multiple working groups to hear from industry stakeholders to understand what is needed and what is possible within the AAM arena.

FAA Acting Administrator Nolen said expanding partnerships between FAA and industry, “help us to identify and mitigate safety hazards in a way that allows the industry to gain experience and develop industry consensus standards.”

DOT Under Secretary Monje said DOT is working in collaboration with FAA to develop effective milestones for implementing the BVLOS ARC’s recommendations. AUVSI leadership, and several of our member companies, participated on the BVLOS ARC and have been intimately involved in pushing the FAA to issue associated rulemakings as soon as possible.

Experts from defense and intelligence agencies discussed Counter-UAS operations and security concerns:

Army Major General Sean Gainey mentioned the many beneficial opportunities and applications with UAS technology, but also the potential threats posed by these systems, including interference around airports.

Lucian Sikorskyj, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism, Threat Prevention, and Law Enforcement for DHS said sustaining and enhancing UAS authority will enable DHS to safely integrate UAS into the aviation landscape. He explained that TSA still lacks the needed authority to fully protect airports and heliports from an increasing number of threats from UAS.

Brad Wiegmann, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at DOJ said the agency will prosecute cases of drones being used to smuggle drugs or weapons in addition to attempting to hit high-value targets. DOJ is conducting a pilot program to work with partners to perform detection and mitigation activities to counter UAS threats.

FAA’s Tonya Coultas said the agency has developed a national action plan proposal to expand on certain UAS authorities to put safeguards into place. This will support its entities and protect airports from potential UAS threats while safely incorporating UAS into the airspace.

There was also significant conversation on the “Safeguarding the Homeland from the Threats Posed by Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act,” counter-UAS legislation currently pending in Congress. The bill, which was recently introduced by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH), closely mirrors the Administration’s “Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems National Action Plan” and, importantly, includes a reauthorization of DHS and DOJ Counter-UAS authority that expires October 5 as part of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act. AUVSI was encouraged when HSGAC recently approved the bill, and we remain closely engaged on this legislation.