The US Transportation Department has named 12 new appointments to the FAA Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC).

The AAAC provides advice and recommendations to the FAA on key unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) integration issues, interests and policies. AAAC members include executives and stakeholders who represent a variety of drone and AAM interests, including industry, research, academia, retail, technology and state and local governments.

NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen is one of the new appointees. He says: “AAM and UAS hold tremendous promise, but it's extremely important that we bring these aircraft to market safely and with full consideration of community concerns. I am honoured to be selected to participate in the AAAC, and I appreciate DOT Secretary Buttigieg and FAA acting administrator Nolen for giving me the opportunity to bring a business aviation perspective to these issues.”

In addition, for the first time, the AAAC will include members able to raise awareness of potential impacts to communities and advise on approaches that advance emerging aviation models while respecting neighbouring communities. Ferrovial Vertiports CEO Kevin Cox is one such new member.

“On behalf of Ferrovial, I want to express my appreciation to Secretary Buttigieg for the opportunity to contribute to the FAA's important mission of ensuring the successful introduction of advanced air mobility services,” says Cox. “As a leader in developing the vertiport infrastructure that will help to make advanced air mobility possible, Ferrovial is proud to assist the FAA's Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee in executing its mandate. I look forward to working collaboratively with industry participants and regulators to help this industry reach its full potential and deliver maximum benefits to communities, with safety and sustainability as the highest priorities.”

“We have an opportunity in front of us that is going to require a lot of coordination, communication and collaboration,” adds Bolen. “Through the AAAC, we can approach issues in the interest of all stakeholders, address questions upfront and mitigate potential concerns while these emerging technologies are still in development.”

Additional AAAC appointees include Port of Seattle COO Jeffrey Keith Antonio Brown; University of Michigan professor of aerospace engineering and Geminus.AI founder and chief scientist Karthik Duraisamy; ANRA Technologies founder and CEO Amit Ganjoo; Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma executive director, advanced technology initiatives James Grimsley; National Air Traffic Controllers Associations EVP Andrew LeBovidge; Zipline head of aviation regulatory and legal affairs Okeoma Moronu; Blade Air Mobility president and general counsel Melissa Tomkiel; HAI CEO James Viola; and Community Air Mobility Initiative executive director Yolanka Wulff.

UPS vice president for flight operations and safety Houston Mills will chair the advisory committee.