Sponsors (2)
The bill accelerates federal support and clarifies terms to advance commercial drone and advanced air mobility innovation, while trading off potential local noise/safety/privacy impacts, coordination strains for state/local governments, and taxpayer opportunity costs if outcomes are not well-demonstrated.
Researchers, engineers, and technology firms will receive continued federal support for UAS/AAM R&D, advancing commercial drone and air-taxi technologies and helping develop new high-tech jobs and businesses.
Congress and taxpayers will get progress briefings on advanced aviation R&D within 18 months, increasing transparency and oversight of federal investments.
Industry, local planners, and governments will have clearer definitions for terms like AAM, UAM, regional air mobility, and UTM, reducing regulatory ambiguity for deployment planning.
Residents in urban and nearby communities may face increased noise, safety, and privacy risks as autonomous and urban air mobility operations expand without guaranteed mitigations.
State and local governments could face coordination and readiness challenges if federal research and definitions accelerate deployment before local infrastructure, rules, and safety frameworks are in place.
Taxpayers may bear opportunity costs from continued federal R&D spending if the program lacks clear milestones or measurable returns.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs NASA, with FAA and partners, to continue research on UAS/AAM (including UTM and autonomy), report progress to key Congressional committees within 18 months, and defines key terms.
Introduced December 11, 2025 by Thomas Kean · Last progress December 11, 2025
Requires NASA, working with the FAA, other federal agencies, and academic and industry partners, to continue research into unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM), including UTM and autonomous capabilities. The bill also requires NASA to brief the relevant House and Senate committees on research progress within 18 months and sets out definitions for terms used in the work.