Rep. Sharice Davids (D-3-KS) co-chairs the newly formed, bipartisan Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus. She also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as a member of the Aviation Subcommittee.
A resident of Roeland Park, KS, she was a first-generation college student who graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and earned a law degree from Cornell Law School.
During her career, Davids has focused on economic and community development, which included time as a White House Fellow in the Department of Transportation under President Barack Obama.
When she was elected to her current post in 2018, Davids became one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress.
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Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-At Large-SD) also co-chairs the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus. He also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as a member of the Aviation Subcommittee.
Prior to being elected to Congress in 2018, Johnson served as vice president for Vantage Point Solutions, a South Dakota-based engineering and consulting firm specializing in rural telecommunications.
In 2004, Johnson was elected statewide to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. In 2010, Johnson was appointed as the South Dakota governor’s chief of staff, where he oversaw many of the governor’s top projects and initiatives, especially those related to infrastructure and public safety.
Johnson grew up in a large working-class family in central South Dakota. He has degrees from the University of South Dakota and the University of Kansas.
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Q: With the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector emerging now, what are your thoughts on ways to help ensure the success of low-emission, alternative fuel aircraft powered by electricity or hydrogen?
Davids: Supporting the success of low-emission, alternative fuel aircraft requires investment in research, development and infrastructure, as well as creating incentives for the adoption of these technologies. We need to build the charging and fueling networks to support this new sector with the help of programs like the Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization Act, which Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-2-WA) led. And we must make sure a regulatory framework is in place to provide certainty for operators and ensure safe and efficient operations. Long-term collaboration between government, industry and academia will be key to advancing these innovations.
“There will also be a need for pilots, air traffic managers and engineers focused on these technologies, making the aviation job market more dynamic and exciting.”
Rep. Sharice Davids, Caucus Co-Chair
Q: How do you see the landscape of aviation jobs changing, with AAM aircraft currently in development expected to enter service as soon as next year? What kinds of jobs do you envision being created through the manufacture and operation of these new aircraft?
Davids: The landscape of aviation jobs is poised for significant change with the introduction of AAM aircraft. We’ll see new roles in manufacturing, maintaining electric and hydrogen aircraft, and building the necessary infrastructure. I’m proud to be from Kansas, where we have a robust aviation legacy and a well-trained workforce with the knowledge, skills and abilities that easily translate to this exciting new part of our economy. And that’s the case for many other parts of our country. There will also be a need for pilots, air traffic managers and engineers focused on these technologies, making the aviation job market more dynamic and exciting.
Q: What more can the caucus do to support the widespread adoption and availability of sustainable aviation fuel?
Johnson: Sustainable aviation fuel has a critical role in increasing aviation sustainability and could be responsible for 65% of the emissions reduction to reach the net-zero by 2050 goal. My state of South Dakota will be a leader in SAF production and bolstering production across the U.S. will be necessary to ensure we reach this goal. The Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus will educate members and stakeholders on SAF’s role, leading initiatives to boost SAF production, and cutting red tape for producers and manufacturers.
“The caucus will look to sustainability in equipment and technology that will undoubtedly boost career opportunities and spur more innovation within the transportation industry.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson, Caucus Co-Chair
Q: What are your thoughts on the economic side-benefits of sustainable aviation operations that just make good business sense – such as single-engine taxiing and inflight operations that burn less fuel and reduce contrails?
Johnson: When people hear “sustainability,” they often think of environmental solutions, but it encompasses much more. Sustainable operations over the long term have economic benefits. The caucus will look to sustainability in equipment and technology that will undoubtedly boost career opportunities and spur more innovation within the transportation industry. Financial savings incurred through sustainable practices can lower costs for passengers as well as aviation companies, allowing companies to invest further in improving more aspects of air travel. The innovation we’ve seen so far is exciting and promising, and I look forward to holding briefings on aerospace technology to learn how Congress can best support this innovation.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.