aviation innovation

In this episode of Uplink: The Big Story, we delve into the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, a critical legislation that stands at a pivotal juncture in American aviation history. We unpack the legislation's significance, its current status in the Senate, and the wide-ranging implications for safety, efficiency, and innovation in the national airspace.

Key Discussion Points

FAA Reauthorization Act Overview: We start with a brief overview of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, highlighting its role as the legislative backbone for the Federal Aviation Administration's operations and funding.

Safety and Boeing 737 Max 9 Incident: The recent Boeing 737 Max 9 incident has reignited concerns over airline safety. We discuss how this event influences Senate scrutiny of the FAA bill and the potential for enhanced safety measures.

Economic and Community Impact: The episode examines how the FAA bill affects local communities reliant on airports for economic vitality and the broader implications for employment and economic growth within the aviation sector.

Workforce and Innovation: We explore provisions in the bill to promote aviation workforce growth and encourage innovation, emphasizing the importance of securing America's leadership in global aviation.

Legislative Challenges and Strategies: The discussion shifts to the complexities of navigating the legislative process, including the alignment of FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, Senate leaders, and industry stakeholders on the bill's provisions.

Deep Dives

Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF): Michael provides insights into the evolution of SAF in the industry, discussing current challenges, opportunities, and the potential impact on environmentally responsible flying.

Safety Management Systems (SMS) Implementation: We discuss the anticipated FAA rulemaking for SMS in business aviation, including the impact on Part 135 operators, air tours, and manufacturers and the challenges of scaling SMS effectively.

Legislative Details

Bill Provisions: An in-depth look at the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, S.1939, including funding allocations for the Airport Improvement Program, agency operations, facilities, and equipment, and the significant increase in funding for AIP.

Reauthorization Process: An explanation of the FAA reauthorization process, its importance for the continuous operation and advancement of the FAA, and the legislative efforts involved in renewing and revising relevant laws.

In wrapping up, we discuss the critical need for timely legislative action to ensure the continued safety, efficiency, and innovation of America's aviation infrastructure. The episode emphasizes the collective responsibility of lawmakers, industry leaders, and the aviation community to navigate the legislative turbulence and chart a course toward a secure and prosperous aviation future.

Key Moments:

0:00 - 2:00 - Introduction to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, highlighting its critical role and the urgency for Senate clearance due to the impending expiration.

2:00 - 4:00 - Discussion on the wide-reaching impacts of the bill's delay, affecting aviation safety, efficiency, and technological advancements.

4:00 - 6:00 - Insights into the strategic steps required for a safer, more efficient, and innovative aviation future, emphasizing collaboration and technological advancements.

6:00 - 8:00 - Exploration of the bill's implications for airport infrastructure, workforce challenges, and the integration of emerging technologies.

8:00 - 10:00 - Discussion on environmental sustainability practices within the bill, including sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the importance of regulatory shifts.

10:00 - 12:00 - The impact of Safety Management Systems (SMS) in business aviation, highlighting upcoming mandates and their significance.

12:00 - 14:00 - Summary of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023's provisions, including financial allocations and program significance.

14:00 - 16:00 - Emphasis on engaging youth and diversifying the aviation workforce through implementing recommendations from recent reports.

16:00 - 18:00 - Insight into SAF developments, regulatory incentives, and advancements in production facilities.

18:00 - 20:00 - Overview of the comprehensive FAA Reauthorization Bill and its financial impact on various aviation programs.

20:00 - 22:00 - Closing remarks on the importance of community engagement and listener participation in aviation discussions.

22:00 - 25:57 - Final thoughts on the episode's discussions, emphasizing the FAA Reauthorization Act's importance for the future of aviation and inviting listeners to join the community dialogue. The conversation continues. Join the Uplink—LinkUp  and Uplink—LinkUp: DC Metro

In 2018, I was invited to be a speaker at a conference in the Midwest. Before I got on the stage to present my keynote, the session before me was talking about a new concept that I remember briefly hearing about as a student at Embry-Riddle, Advance Air Mobility (AAM). The speaker mentioned how AAM is the future of aviation, and that it will revolutionize air travel as we know it.

AAM is known as the development, integration, and utilization of new airborne transportation systems, typically involving electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, drones, and other innovative aerial vehicles. These systems are designed to operate in urban, suburban, and rural environments. Since that conference in 2018, so many developments have transpired in this sector.

Key Features of the AAM sectors include;

• eVTOLs: These are aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter but transition to forward flight like a plane, predominantly powered by electric propulsion.
• Urban Air Mobility (UAM): A subset of AAM focusing on urban environments. UAM seeks to alleviate ground traffic congestion by taking advantage of the airspace above cities.
• Decentralized Infrastructure: Instead of large central airports, AAM emphasizes smaller vertiports or landing pads scattered throughout urban and suburban areas.
• Autonomous Operations: While initial operations may have human pilots, the goal for many AAM solutions is to eventually operate autonomously, which will require advanced autonomous flight systems and robust air traffic management solutions.

The AAM sector on a global scale was valued at $8.2 billion in 2022. It is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20% by 2032 with a valuation to reach about $68.1 billion. Furthermore, investments in AAM have reached $4.8 billion in 2021, with new innovative companies launching each year in pursuit of the next successful eVTOL to hit the market. Specifically, there are over 200 companies globally in the race to develop eVTOL aircraft. The primary driver in the AAM sector is the Urban Air Mobility market which is projected to rise from 3.8 billion to 38.5 billion by 2030.

In terms of women in this sector, McKinsey & Company shared on its blog this year how women are advancing in Future Air Mobility (FAM). Here are a few key points the blog shared.

• Sustainable aviation saw the biggest improvement in gender diversity, with the number of women and nonbinary people increasing from 13 percent to 18 percent.
• Other segments, including manned advanced air mobility/eVTOL vehicles and small drones, showed smaller gains.
• Companies that develop supersonic and hypersonic technology regressed, with the number of women and nonbinary people falling from 23 percent to 20 percent, although the small sample size means that the departure of a few senior leaders could sway the numbers in a meaningful way.
• Among regions, North America has the most diverse leadership teams in both gender (20 percent female or nonbinary) and ethnic diversity—defined as the non-majority group in a company’s home country (18 percent).
• Technical roles have seen the biggest increase in diversity for both genders (going from 5 percent to 14 percent female or nonbinary) and people from ethnic minorities (going from 12 percent to 16 percent).
• Despite this progress, women and nonbinary people remain significantly underrepresented in technical roles at FAM companies, as they are in many other industries.

Our special guest who will launch us into season five of the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is Elan Head, a familiar voice in AAM. Elan is an award-winning journalist specializing in aviation and technology. Head currently serves as the Senior Editor at The Air Current and continues to be a respected journalist in the industry covering several developments and breaking news in AAM. Elan is a Commercial Helicopter Pilot and an FAA Gold Seal flight instructor with helicopter and instrument helicopter ratings. Elan joins us to share her unexpected start in aviation and how she turned her passion for flight and journalism into a career that she truly enjoys.

(3:46) - Megawatt electrical motor designed by MIT engineers could help electrify aviation

This episode was brought to you by Mouser, our favorite place to get electronics parts for any project, whether it be a hobby at home or a prototype for work. Click HERE to check out the article on autonomous luggage!

From supercomputers to innovating at incredible speed, Alex Dreiling’s work at  Clipchamp may sound like something from a Douglas Adams novel, but his successful startup began with an everyday idea and a down-to-earth attitude.

He shares that they created something no one else was doing, and managed to take it from an idea they had over lunch – to running software that’s been solving problems for millions around the world since they launched in 2014. It’s been an exciting – sometimes nail-biting – journey so far and the team has plenty of ideas of where they’ll go next.

Learn more about Oracle for Startups

(Interviewed by StartupGrind's Chris Joannou).