Nov. 19, 2019
NBAA, along with other industry stakeholders, recently applauded the Trump administration for including support of development of urban air mobility (UAM) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in its budget priorities.
“The administration has signaled to the world that the United States is fully invested in leading this effort by asking departments and agencies to prioritize research and development that enables eVTOL aircraft,” NBAA and other organizations state in a Nov. 13 letter. “UAM has the potential to be the next great aviation revolution and benefit people from all walks of life. While it has great promise, much work remains. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the federal government to ensure this future becomes a reality.”
“The U.S. has one of the safest and most sophisticated aviation systems in the world,” explained Mike Nichols, NBAA’s senior vice president of strategy and innovation. “It only makes sense that the U.S. is a leader in the eVTOL and UAM segments of the industry as well. The administration’s recent budget is a positive move toward that goal.”
The letter urged federal departments and agencies to continue focusing on some key areas of development required to ensure successful implementation of UAM and eVTOL operations:
- Research
- Standards
- Certification
- Workforce development
These innovative industry segments will have significant economic contributions: According to a recent study jointly sponsored and authored by NBAA and NEXA Advisors, the UAM industry is expected to generate direct income of $318 billion and indirect income of $600 billion by the year 2040.
“NBAA is committed to the safe integration of eVTOL and a successful launch of UAM operations, actively participating in a number of initiatives,” said Nichols. “The recent NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition highlighted this commitment by featuring a dedicated eVTOL exhibit area and a series of discussion panels with eVTOL and UAM industry updates.”
Co-signing organizations include: the Aerospace Industries Association, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Composites Manufacturers Association, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, the Community Air Mobility Initiative, the Commercial Drone Alliance, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the Vertical Flight Society.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.