by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Walker Robinson
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) have announced a partnership for advancing the development of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem.
NATA has been representing aviation businesses for over 80 years across various aviation industries. As a public policy group, they are committed to advancing the interests of aviation businesses in Congress and other federal agencies.
The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States and has been actively involved in the development of emerging aviation technologies, such as UAS and AAM. They were the first Native American Tribal Government to receive a Public Aircraft Operations Certificate of Authorization from the FAA and have continued to work closely with the FAA and other agencies to integrate UAS into the National Airspace system, demonstrating the safety benefits and operational efficiencies that UAS technologies are capable of.
NATA, Choctaw Nation and Advanced Air Mobility
The partnership between NATA and CNO was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with a focus on enhancing AAM/UAM education and adoption. They hope to achieve this by sharing expertise and information through committee engagement and by collaborating on various aspects such as business initiatives, outreach efforts, and events.
“The future of AAM/UAM is now. NATA members from across all functional areas, including AAM, part 135, FBOs, airports, and MROs, will more quickly gain the guidance needed to support, maintain, and operate the next generation of aircraft through this collaboration. As safety advancements and education are critical to both NATA’s mission and the safe, successful implementation of eVTOL technology, a partnership between NATA and CNO was a natural fit in fostering these pillars across all stages of AAM/UAM development,” stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna.
James Grimsley, CNO Executive Director of Advanced Technology Initiatives, will kick off NATA’s November Aviation Business Conference in Long Beach, California, discussing the benefits of UAS and AAM technologies to rural locales, international markets, and the national economy, as well as how the CNO is helping to advance this sector.
“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma looks forward to the many positive societal benefits that will be available as a result of emerging aviation technologies,” said Grimsley. “The relationship with NATA further illustrates CNO’s commitment to being a leader in this exciting growth area.”
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Walker Robinson is a 2022 Graduate of the University of California Santa Barbara with a passion for renewable energy and emerging technologies. An early career professional experienced in both sales and development of residential and utility-scale renewable energy systems, he is delighted to be part of the drone industry.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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