Reps. Obernolte, Panetta launch bipartisan Advanced Air Mobility Caucus | Representative Jay Obernolte
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Reps. Obernolte, Panetta launch bipartisan Advanced Air Mobility Caucus

June 23, 2022

On Thursday, Congressmen Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) launched the bipartisan Congressional Advanced Air Mobility Caucus, a new Congressional group to educate members and the public about advanced air mobility technologies, associated societal benefits, and regulatory updates needed to promote this revolutionary technology.

“Imagine a future just a few years from now, where, instead of summoning an Uber or Lyft, you walk to a nearby vertiport where an electric aerial vehicle hovers down to pick you up and takes you straight to your destination at a cost similar to using a ridesharing app today,” said Rep. Obernolte. “That is the potential of advanced air mobility, and its revolutionary nature is why we’re launching the bipartisan Advanced Air Mobility Caucus to ensure Congress is engaged on providing a regulatory structure that guides this industry in safety standards while enabling, not stifling, this innovation.”

“Advanced air mobility innovations like electric vertical takeoff vehicles show promise as new modes of sustainable transportation for commercial and private use,” said Rep. Panetta. “This bipartisan caucus will broaden awareness of the industry at the federal level and foster future partnerships with Members on both sides of the aisle. Supporting this cutting-edge aviation technology will cut emissions, provide more efficient transportation options, and create thousands of high-skilled manufacturing jobs.”

Advanced air mobility aircraft are expected to be FAA certified within the next few years and are poised to complement existing transportation networks to contribute to a sustainable future for aviation. In addition, advanced air mobility is expected to create hundreds of thousands of high-skilled manufacturing, design, operational and infrastructure jobs by 2040. Together, caucus members will work to identify policies that will stimulate the industry, promote safety, address infrastructure needs, and engage in advanced air mobility’s modernization of existing transportation networks.

Founding members of the Congressional Advanced Air Mobility Caucus include Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Garret Graves (R-LA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Michelle Steel (R-CA), David Valadao (R-CA), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Scott Franklin (R-FL).

The caucus has also garnered broad industry support with endorsements from the National Business Aviation Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Air Transportation Association, Aerospace Industries Association, Helicopter Association International, National Association of State Aviation Officials and General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

Issues:Technology