NATA, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Partner to Move Advanced Air Mobility Forward

NATA and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Form Partnership to Advance AAM/UAM Implementation

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.”

Read more:

• NBAA, Stakeholders Caution AAM Working Group: Competition is “Fierce and Rapidly Advancing”;
• South Korea Moves Full Speed Ahead on Advanced Air Mobility: PLANA, Hi-Air Ink Deal for 30 AAM Aircraft
• Passenger eVTOL Wisk Aero, Japan Airlines Partner to Bring AAM to Japan
• AAM and Vertiports in Australia: Skyportz and Pelligra Partner

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.