FAA Administrator: AAM Plan on the Horizon

'If you’re looking for the code to the front door of the next generation of aviation, here it is,' FAA chief Billy Nolen said.

Jack Daleo

Thursday, May 11, 2023 at 06:06 PM ET

Verified

Acting FAA head Billy Nolen, who will step down this summer, shared details on the agency’s future plans for drones and AAM. [Credit: CNW Group/WESTJET]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is actively developing plans for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), including eVTOLs and air taxis, with an AAM Implementation Plan forthcoming and a goal for initial operations by 2028, while prioritizing safety and global regulatory alignment.
Regulatory progress for routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations remains slow, with no set date for new rules, although the FAA is granting provisional waivers.
The agency faces leadership uncertainty with Acting Administrator Nolen's impending departure and a critical September deadline for FAA Reauthorization to secure funding and establish priorities, with AAM executive Mike Whitaker reportedly considered for the top role.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The FAA’s release of an updated blueprint for urban air mobility (UAM) operations last week was a positive development for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and air taxi technology. But on Wednesday, acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen provided a larger update on the agency’s vision.

At the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s Xponential 2023 trade show in Denver, Nolen delivered a keynote speech in which he detailed the FAA’s plans for expanded drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) operations.