The FAA has released an implementation plan detailing the steps it and others will need to take to safely enable advanced air mobility operations in the near term. The ‘Innovate28’ plan includes various components and the sequence they will occur in for operations to be at scale at one or more sites by 2028.

“This plan shows how all the pieces will come together allowing the industry to scale with safety as the north star,” said Deputy FAA Administrator Katie Thomson.

The plan will serve as a foundation for making entry into service routine and predictable by maximizing the use of existing procedures and infrastructure. It addresses how the agency and partners will certify aircraft and pilots, manage airspace access, ensure pilot training, develop infrastructure, maintain security, and engage communities.

Advanced air mobility guide

The plan also includes a planning guide that can be applied to any site, laying out key integration objectives and sequences.

Multiple entities will play roles: The FAA; the advanced air mobility industry; labour partners, NASA; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Energy; power industry; and state, local and tribal communities. The FAA is collaborating closely with stakeholders, including through the Department of Transportation’s Advanced Air Mobility Interagency Working Group.

The FAA’s broad effort announced on 18 July follows the agency releasing its airspace blueprint and proposing a comprehensive rule for training and certifying pilots to fly these aircraft.

The plan’s highlights include details on operations, infrastructure, power grid, security, the environment, and community engagement issues. For more information, visit the Advanced Air Mobility website.

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