AAM Grants Letter

May 10, 2021
Chairman Tom Carper Chairman Peter DeFazio

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and U.S. House of Representatives Committee
Public Works on Transportation and Infrastructure
410 Dirksen Senate Office Building 2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515
Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito Ranking Member Sam Graves

U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and U.S. House of Representatives Committee
Public Works on Transportation and Infrastructure
456 Dirksen Senate Office Building 2164 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairmen Carper and DeFazio and Ranking Members Capito and Graves:
We write today to express our strong support for the inclusion of a new grant program for
planning and capital costs to support Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) transportation in upcoming
infrastructure legislation. AAM uses electric aircraft and is poised to revolutionize the way in
which people move within and between cities, suburban, and rural areas. Additionally, AAM
provides environmentally conscious alternatives to current transportation options. It is critical
that states and local governments have the flexibility and financial support to study and plan for
how AAM can meet their distinct planning and community requirements and make targeted
capital investments.
More than 250 designers around the world are exploring the potential for the next generation of
aircraft, including hybrid-electric and all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft,
that will make AAM a reality. These aircraft utilize recent advances in powertrain technology,
resulting in products that emit less noise and reduce emissions. Many aircraft are in active
certification programs with the FAA, with commercial operations expected to commence within
the next five years. A recent study from the Aerospace Industries Association and Deloitte
projects that by 2035 AAM could be a $115 billion annual market and create at least 280,000
jobs.
Operators who can meet the safety and operational standards of today’s regulatory framework
and use existing aviation infrastructure such as heliports and runways will be able to take off in
the coming years. In some cases, pathfinder projects can provide vital multimodal linkages
between a city’s airport and its local transit systems. As public demand for quieter, emissions-
free flight grows, operations will expand beyond existing aviation infrastructure and investments
in new takeoff and landing locations closer to work and residential centers will be needed.
Interested communities will see a multitude of benefits from incorporating AAM into their
transportation planning.
This expanded mode of local and regional transportation can create new economic and
workforce development opportunities for communities. Each city or county is likely to have
subtle but important differences based on local characteristics. To assist cities and counties in
their planning and necessary capital investments for this innovative technology, a federal grant
program is needed to ensure that these new options are fully considered alongside traditional
infrastructure options.
The United States is currently the global leader in the development of AAM technology
including aviation autonomy and critical propulsion technology, but that leadership is highly
contested. Europe and China are hard at work developing these aircraft as well as the
accompanying support systems and infrastructure. This AAM grant program will assist cities,
counties, metropolitan planning organizations, states, and others in accelerating this critical
work, allowing the U.S. to maintain our global leadership in an exciting new aviation market,
while creating thousands of new green American jobs.
Sincerely,
Aeronautical Repair Station Association Aerospace Industries Association
Aircraft Electronics Association American Institute of Aeronautics and

Astronautics
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems
International Community Air Mobility Initiative
General Aviation Manufacturers Association Helicopter Association International
National Air Transportation Association National Association of Counties
National Association of Manufacturers National Association of State Aviation

Officials
National Business Aviation Association
Vertical Flight Society
cc: Senator Maria Cantwell, Chair, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
Senator Roger Wicker, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation

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May 10, 2021

Chairman Tom Carper Chairman Peter DeFazio

Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito Ranking Member Sam Graves

Aeronautical Repair Station Association Aerospace Industries Association

Aircraft Electronics Association American Institute of Aeronautics and

General Aviation Manufacturers Association Helicopter Association International

National Air Transportation Association National Association of Counties

National Association of Manufacturers National Association of State Aviation

Senator Roger Wicker, Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,

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