SB1549

THE CONTEXT: Advanced air mobility means an air transportation system that primarily uses an electric aircraft, including electric conventional takeoff, electric vertical takeoff and landing and powered lift aircraft, to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or a regional area ( A. R.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would define ultralight vehicle as a vehicle that: a; is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant; b; does not have a united states or foreign airworthiness certificate; c; if unpowered, weighs less than one 155 pounds; d; if powered: i; weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices that are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation; ii; has a fuel capacity of not more than 5 gallons; iii; does not exceed more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and iv; has a power-off stall speed of not more than 24 knots calibrated airspeed and includes ultralight vehicle into the definition of advanced air mobility.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to make the government process for ultralight vehicles more definite and accountable. It would define ultralight vehicle as a vehicle that: a. is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant; b. does not have a united states or foreign airworthiness certificate; c. if unpowered, weighs less than one 155 pounds; d. if powered: i. weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety devices that are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic situation; ii. has a fuel capacity of not more than 5 gallons; iii. does not exceed more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and iv. has a power-off stall speed of not more than 24 knots calibrated airspeed, and would also includes ultralight vehicle into the definition of advanced air mobility, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.