Preflight Brief: Meet Your Future Airport Neighbors

Background:       

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), the umbrella term for electric, highly automated aircraft like eVTOLs and air taxis, is moving from concept to certification. Several manufacturers are already working through FAA airworthiness approval, vertiport design standards are in place, and the FAA has an implementation plan targeting operations at scale by 2028. For flying clubs, this isn't abstract: these aircraft will eventually share runways, pattern airspace, and potentially even ramp space with the GA fleet. Understanding how they're being certified and integrated now means fewer surprises later.

Learning points:             

• AAM is an umbrella term covering electric, highly automated aircraft, most commonly referred to as air taxis or eVTOLs (electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft).
• AAM applications go beyond passenger transport, including cargo delivery, firefighting support, search and rescue, and connecting underserved or rural communities.
• Many AAM aircraft operate in multiple flight modes, taking off like a helicopter, transitioning to forward flight like an airplane, then transitioning back for landing.
• The FAA has proposed adding "powered lift" as a new category to the regulations governing commercial operations like airlines and air tours.
• Manufacturers must meet FAA-issued special conditions or additional airworthiness criteria tailored to their specific aircraft design, since existing certification rules were not written with eVTOLs in mind.
• The FAA has issued vertiport design standards, meant to serve as the foundation for new AAM-specific infrastructure.
• Initial AAM operations are expected to resemble today's helicopter operations, using existing infrastructure like helipads and established routes.
• As operations scale, dedicated corridors and new air traffic communication procedures may be introduced for AAM traffic.
• The FAA is coordinating internationally, including membership in the National Aviation Authorities Network (with the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), to harmonize certification standards across countries.
• Community and pilot engagement now, while AAM is still in early integration, gives GA pilots a chance to shape how these aircraft get folded into shared airspace before procedures are locked in.

Other Safety Resources:                  

Here is a reminder of just some of the safety resources available to all pilots:                  

FAASTeam:                  

faasafety.gov                  

The FAASTeam website is the portal to a vast array of courses, videos, links, and much more.  Remember that WINGS not only encompasses knowledge activities but also flight activities.  Use the search options to narrow down to say, flight activities for a basic phase of WINGS, and you will be able to find a syllabus and often a worksheet for various flight activities.  Use WINGS to keep you proficient and think of the flight activities as a progressive flight review—earnt over 12-months, rather than at the end of 24-months.                  

Wait…you don’t do WINGS?                  

That’s a big shame—you are missing out on a free pilot proficiency program that will help you enjoy your flying even more, allow you to earn a flight review every 12 months just by flying, and may provide insurance discounts.                  

The FAASTeam WINGS pilot proficiency program is the best way for general aviation pilots to ensure they are competent, confident, and safe in their flight operations.   Oh, and being perpetually proficient will save you money in the long run.                    

If you are interested in using the FAASTeam WINGS program for your personal flying or with your flying club, create an account on the FAASTeam website, http://www.faasafety.gov, and explore the collection of courses and flight activities.  Also, feel free to contact me (Jason Levine, WINGS Representative), and I’d be pleased to walk you through the program.  More on “WINGS for Clubs” can be found here in Flying Clubs Radio Episode 8 and the May 2020 Question of the Month.                    

Other FAA Resources:                  

Don’t forget to regularly revisit these FAA safety gems, as new material is frequently added:                  

Pilot Minute                  

57 Seconds to Safer Flying                  

FAA Safety Briefing Magazine                  

From the Flight Deck                     

AOPA Air Safety Institute:                  

https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institute                  

AOPA’s Air Safety Institute (ASI), which by the way is funded by the AOPA Foundation just like the Flying Clubs Initiative, is packed with exceptional content, including exceptional videos, podcasts, accident analysis, online courses, recorded webinars and more.  Completing ASI activities may also earn WINGS credits.  Of particular interest to flying club safety officers is the updated Safety to Go section.  There, you can download a selection of topics, each coming with PowerPoint slides and speaker’s notes!