“U.S Transportation Secretary Duffy and Senator Cruz, Announce Texas A&M to Lead Centre for Advanced Aviation Technologies”
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, and U.S Republican Senator, Ted Cruz, recently announced that Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) is to be the managing entity to establish and operate the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Centre for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT), reports a press release.
Sean Duffy commented, “Texas is the perfect place. Already, the state has established itself as a leader in commercial drone safety testing, from drones delivering your packages, to powered lift technologies like air taxis. We are at the cusp of an aviation revolution.”
The release explains, “The CAAT will play a pivotal role in advancing aviation capabilities and ensuring their safe integration into the National Airspace System (NAS). The Centre is to also represent a collaboration between government, academia and industry to drive innovation in aviation.”
Senator Ted Cruz remarked, “When I authored the bipartisan FAA Reauthorisation Act of 2024, I helped create the CAAT with the express intention of bringing that Centre to the Dallas-Fort Worth area because of the groundbreaking innovation occurring there. I am thankful to Secretary Duffy for recognising its value.”
He continued, “This is a significant win for Texas that will impact communities across our state. I’m confident this new research and testing centre will help the private sector create thousands of high-paying jobs and grow the Texas economy through billions in new investments.”
The FAA previously authorised a North Texas test site where multiple companies are conducting commercial drone delivery trials and operations in the same airspace while keeping their craft safely deconflicted using Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) technology.
Both Zipline and Wing are carrying out drone delivery operations in Texas
Background
The FAA is establishing the CAAT to focus on the testing and integration of new and emerging aviation technologies, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63) requires the Agency to develop a CAAT consisting of an airspace laboratory, flight demonstration zones and testing corridors.
Twenty-eight proposals were received from entities across multiple states, TAMUS was selected to manage the Centre because of its:-
: Proximity to major international airports and a FAA regional headquarters.
: Existing infrastructure for advanced aviation technology testing.
: Strong academic programs and industry partnerships.
For more information
(Top Image: TAMUS Campus)
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