Tag: faa
Enabling a Safe, Secure and Inclusive Sky with Aerial Mobility
Public and regulatory preparedness for aerial mobility are two of the top priorities for seamlessly integrating the rapidly developing technology in to the current global infrastructure. Following the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao shared some thoughts about how the United States—specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation— is...

Enabling a Safe, Secure and Inclusive Sky with Aerial Mobility

Public and regulatory preparedness for aerial mobility are two of the top priorities for seamlessly integrating the rapidly developing technology in to the current global infrastructure. Following the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao shared some thoughts about how the United States—specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation— is approaching this technology. The following is an excerpt from the discussion:
“First, as with every other mode of transportation, safety is our Number One priority. UAM aircraft, and the infrastructure that supports these novel operations, will require a level of safety commensurate with the complexity of any operation that engages in passenger carriage for hire. So the commercial availability of UAM technology in the United States will depend upon companies developing robust, reliable, and technically capable designs that have been shown to be compliant with the applicable airworthiness and safety regulations.
“As you know, Urban Air Mobility vehicles are not helicopters or scaled-up drones. They are complex systems involving infrastructure, new systems and new aircraft. A segregated approach to airspace integration may work for initial, low-volume operations resembling existing helicopter corridors in large urban areas. But a long-term solution that accommodates hundreds- if not thousands- of these air vehicles operating simultaneously over urban landscapes is a complex challenge. It will involve advanced concepts in Air Traffic Management Systems and Trajectory Based Operations, to name a few.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao
“The Department’s FAA will be working with state and local governments and stakeholders over the next two years to define the requirements for these unique types of operations. Let me note that, consistent with this Administration’s approach to new technologies, the FAA has shifted from prescriptive rules to performance-based regulations. This approach will ensure that, as UAM technology and operations evolve, federal regulations will strengthen safety but be agile enough to grow with the technology. The Department will continue to work with industry stakeholders to identify the challenges, gaps, and opportunities associated with UAM.
“Let me add one more thought to this discussion. To be fully deployed, UAM technology must first win the public’s trust and acceptance. UAM systems will be flying directly over– and landing near– neighborhoods and workplaces. So it is imperative that the public’s legitimate concerns about safety, security, noise and privacy be addressed. I challenge the UAM industry to step up, and educate communities about the benefits of this new technology and win their trust. It is critical to ensuring that UAM technology reaches its full potential.”
Why it’s important: These vehicles have the potential to create new mobility options for millions and change how people travel to and around cities, as well as to and from rural areas. This potential has stimulated billions of dollars of investment in UAM technology, as well as first-of-its-kind roundtable discussions with urban air mobility leaders and advocates, as took place at CES 2020.
Source // U.S. Department of Transportation
FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility
On January 13, The Transportation Research Board hosted a panel discussion with senior transportation officials to talk about automation technology in the transportation space. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) joined two deputy assistant Transportation secretaries to talk about various new technologies and the rulemaking processes governing them. The panelists discussed automated driving...

FAA Comments on the Integration of Urban Air Mobility

On January 13, The Transportation Research Board hosted a panel discussion with senior transportation officials to talk about automation technology in the transportation space. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) joined two deputy assistant Transportation secretaries to talk about various new technologies and the rulemaking processes governing them. The panelists discussed automated driving systems, self-driving cars, unmanned aircraft systems, and the spectrum allocation for these new technologies.
At the gathering, Jay Merkle, the Executive Director of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Office, spoke to the panel regarding the future of aerial mobility, as well as what is happening in the present day:
“As I mentioned, these are aircraft that fill that void from 30 miles to 300 miles, between the small drones and the commercial aircraft we know today. And probably the biggest question I get on this is, is this real? Are they really happening? Yes, this is more than just hype. This is more than just promotional videos. We have at least six aircraft well along in their type certification, which is the first step in introducing the new aircraft into operation. We are beginning to work on integrating them operationally, so the pilot requirements, the airline operating requirements, and then were also beginning to work on the air space integration as well.”
“The biggest lesson learned out of all of this work has not been the underlying technology, but it’s really been how do we engage the public and help them embrace these very innovative technologies?”
“To that end, we are continuing and starting to work on community engagement. This will be a particularly new challenge for us … these urban air mobility vehicles tend to be electric driven and have tremendous power requirements for recharging. There are problems that I should say, there are needs to solve certain problems, associated with getting people to and from these aircraft. The best example is they want to use space on top of existing buildings, as landing areas. And most elevators don’t go to the roof. So they will have to redesign elevators to get passengers up to those areas. And to get them up there safely, and without interrupting other activities. So this is a brief overview of all of the very exciting and innovative things that are going on in aviation today. And I think it matches well with what we’re seeing emerge in the surface transportation areas, and the other areas of research.”
Why it’s important: In order to expand the scope of current regulations and infrastructural development, the Transportation Research Board is looking to the experience and knowledge the FAA has already begun to gather regarding the emerging aerial mobility sector. Regulators are making available ample resources to aerial mobility vehicle manufacturers and operators, which has led – and will continue to lead – to the growth of the industry and increased public awareness.
Source // C-SPAN
Farnborough’s Global Urban Air Summit Discusses Aerial Mobility Operations
Global regulators and industry professionals discuss UAM industry operations at GUAS 2019. According to Farnborough International, the Global Urban Air Summit (GUAS) of 2019 “marks the first time global regulators have come together with industry to determine how urban air mobility will operate.” Discussions encompassed a variety of themes, such as the safety of urban aircraft, both from a perspective...

Farnborough’s Global Urban Air Summit Discusses Aerial Mobility Operations

Global regulators and industry professionals discuss UAM industry operations at GUAS 2019.
According to Farnborough International, the Global Urban Air Summit (GUAS) of 2019 “marks the first time global regulators have come together with industry to determine how urban air mobility will operate.” Discussions encompassed a variety of themes, such as the safety of urban aircraft, both from a perspective of regulating repeatable manufacturing processes and one of gaining public acceptance. Of course, autonomy also made its way into the conversation, as it pertains to flight path planning and accountability.
Headlining the opening day of the conference was an insightful discussion with Tim Johnson, Policy Director for the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, and Jay Merkle, Executive Director of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for the US Federal Aviation Administration. The two were also joined by Mildred Troegeler, Director of Global Aerospace Integration for Boeing NeXt, and François Sillion, Uber’s Director of Advanced Technologies Research. This collaboration of regulators and future operators facilitated a productive session that must become a recurring theme if the industry is to progress toward a commercially viable and mature state.
Uber’s Sillion says that he has gleaned substantial insight on how the UAM industry will operate since the launch of Uber Copter in NYC in July of 2019. The program transports passengers to and from popular destinations around the Manhattan area, such as JFK, for a price comparable to an Uber car during rush hour, and at a fraction of the time. Uber Copter rivals BLADE, who launched a service that includes flights to and from all NYC airports starting in May of 2019. Sillion also appeared at the two-day conference to discuss the company’s search for additional airframer partners as it continues to prepare for commercialization via the Uber Air platform (read more here).
The major takeaways from the discussion married concerns from the perspectives of the regulators and operators, as well as of the general public. It is integral to the success of the aerial mobility industry that all societal impacts are mitigated, of which noise was the most emphasized. CAA’s Head of Aerospace Jon Round explained that it is only once vehicles are in operation that the technology will be accepted, and not before. However, a prerequisite to commercial operation is sufficient design and testing iterations in order to minimize noise and hone air traffic management technologies.
Why it’s important: The progress of the aerial mobility industry hinges on continuous meetings of this nature, where productive conversation can be had regarding the largest obstacles ahead. Farnborough International was pleased to see the impact of the inaugural Global Urban Air Summit, and plans to continue with the event going forward.
Source // Farnborough International
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Trump’s 2020 Federal Budget Funds Urban Air Mobility
President Trump recently released his proposal for the 2020 federal budget, and it bodes well for the future of the urban air mobility industry. The 2020 federal budget proposal included funding and resources to aid in the development of both unmanned air systems (UAS) and urban air mobility (UAM). These allocations are intended to support initiatives such as UAS Traffic...

Trump’s 2020 Federal Budget Funds Urban Air Mobility

President Trump recently released his proposal for the 2020 federal budget, and it bodes well for the future of the urban air mobility industry.
The 2020 federal budget proposal included funding and resources to aid in the development of both unmanned air systems (UAS) and urban air mobility (UAM). These allocations are intended to support initiatives such as UAS Traffic Management system development, research on UAS safety, and demonstrations of UAM technology. To help achieve this and make UAM a reality, funds have specifically been directed to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Read here about research being conducted at the Northern Plains UAS Test Site in North Dakota for the Unmanned Air Traffic Management System.
The U.S. DOT budget, for example, includes provisions for innovation efforts such as the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP). The program was initially established with ten local governments and private partners to “gather data for safely advancing beyond-line-of-sight operations over people and package deliveries in selected jurisdictions and to determine future “rules of the road” for time, place and manner of drone operations,” as summarized in a writeup by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
Further, the U.S. DOT was allocated funds to expand and maintain an automated system known as “LAANC,” the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability, which has already processed 35,000 airspace authorizations for small UAS operators nationwide. Additional funds will cover the Unmanned Air Traffic Management System, the Remote Identification of UAS, and the development of safety standards. $63.1 million was requested in President Trump’s budget for the safe integration of UAS into U.S. airspace, an effort that would span multiple agencies, including the FAA.

Read more here about what the FAA, EASA, and other agencies are doing to help air taxi certification. Internationally, Cora is seeking certification with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Image // Kitty Hawk
Additional funding for the DOT, FAA, and NASA was proposed to support the development of new, and modification of existing, regulatory standards ($7.5 million); to develop and integrate an Unmanned Traffic Management system ($130.8 million); and to assist the Airspace Operations and Safety Program (AOSP) in validating new capabilities that improve airport operating efficiency ($121.2 million). This also includes the start of a new Advanced Air Mobility project which will enable the emergence of UAM through a series of demonstrations to assess the maturity of key technologies.
Why its important: As with all technological advancements, urban air mobility must have the proper funding and federal support if we would like to see widespread adoption and implementation across the United States and the world. The proposal by President Trump, if approved, has the potential to energize the UAM industry in the U.S. and fuel its rapid expansion and acceptance.
Original story written by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
GAMA And Urban Air Mobility
The General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA) has acknowledged the progress of the urban air mobility industry as it continues to work with regulatory bodies to provide definition for certification paths of Urban Aircraft. With the sheer volume of investment in the urban air mobility industry within the last year (read – the figure tops $1 Billion USD) the rate of...

GAMA And Urban Air Mobility

The General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA) has acknowledged the progress of the urban air mobility industry as it continues to work with regulatory bodies to provide definition for certification paths of Urban Aircraft.
With the sheer volume of investment in the urban air mobility industry within the last year (read – the figure tops $1 Billion USD) the rate of development of urban aviation is continuing to increase. Greg Bowles, GAMA’s vice president for Global Innovation and Policy, recently wrote that the promise of urban aviation is coming to be realized.
Indeed, the momentum of urban air mobility continues to build. Studies from Booz Allen Hamilton and Porsche Consulting, as well as Morgan Stanley, indicate that the UAM space may become a $3 Billion Dollar industry by 2035, and that by 2025 limited commercial operations of urban aircraft will be in service. (For more information on their studies, be sure to check out TransportUP’s podcast episode with Booz here). GAMA for one is playing a role in helping to shape the dialogue of this process by promoting the sharing of knowledge across boundaries, a practice that is not always commonplace among aerospace firms – and almost more importantly, to help to define the certification path for many of these urban aircraft in the future by working with regulatory agencies such as the FAA and EASA.
Why it’s important: The General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association is playing a critical role in the advancement of the entire UAM industry by providing the grounds necessary for discussions on the certification and testing of a new generation of aircraft. While GAMA doesn’t side with any particular manufacturer, the efforts of the association have underscored the importance of working with regulatory bodies during the design process of aircraft instead of relying on regulation that is dynamic enough to provide for certification of a huge variety of designs.
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