First Part 135 Operator Joins FAA’s Advanced Aviation Research Effort

Membership gives Surf Air Mobility access to exclusive task orders, working groups, and more.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Surf intends to be the first operator to fly paying customers with Beta Technologies’ electric Alia aircraft. [Credit: Beta Technologies]

Key Takeaways:

Surf Air Mobility became the first Part 135 passenger operator to join the FAA's Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT), a consortium focused on advancing aviation technologies like electric and autonomous aircraft.
Membership grants Surf direct access to FAA research and collaboration, while Surf contributes its operational experience, data, and AI-enabled SurfOS software to the consortium.
Surf aims to electrify its fleet with aircraft like Beta Alia and Electra EL9, with its SurfOS platform designed to manage both current Part 135 and future advanced air mobility operations.

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Los Angeles-based Surf Air Mobility is the first Part 135 passenger operator to join an exclusive FAA consortium that is researching the future of air mobility.

Surf’s membership in the Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) gives it new access to FAA research, task orders, working groups, and opportunities to collaborate with academic, industry, and government partners, the company said.