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 is the first Part 135 passenger operator to join the FAA's exclusive Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) consortium.
This membership provides Surf with direct access to FAA research, working groups, and collaboration opportunities focused on advancing and safely integrating future air mobility technologies like electric and autonomous aircraft.
Surf's inclusion is significant as it brings real-world operational experience, extensive flight data, and AI-enabled software (SurfOS) capabilities relevant to the development and management of advanced air mobility.
The company is actively pursuing fleet electrification with plans to integrate electric aircraft (e.g., Beta Alia, Electra EL9) and hybrid-electric powertrains for its Cessna Grand Caravan EX fleet.

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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.