Transportation committee backs task force to study advanced air mobility

The Kentucky Senate Committee on Transportation on an oral vote reported favorably on Senate Joint Resolution 66, a nonbinding measure to form a legislative–agency–industry task force to study advanced air mobility (AAM) and related policy options in Kentucky.

Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer, sponsor of SJR 66, told the committee the resolution would “look to what other states are doing and see what policies we should be thinking about in Kentucky.” She described AAM as the next wave of aviation innovation, pointing to electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, being manufactured near Dayton, Ohio, and work under way at the Federal Aviation Administration on certification and airspace management.

The measure’s supporters argued Kentucky has infrastructure that could attract AAM investment. “We have great airports. We have existing big users like UPS and DHL, as well as airspace that is not very congested,” Frommeyer said. Bob Babich, identified in the record as a CVG Airport co‑founder, and Sarah Wood spoke as guests accompanying the sponsor. The sponsor said aviation, aerospace and logistics generated about $16,000,000,000 in revenue for Kentucky in 2022 and argued the state should study how to capture AAM-related economic activity.

Committee members asked for more technical information. Senator Berg asked about typical speeds and uses; Frommeyer replied that speeds and specifications vary by aircraft and that early use cases include rapid movement of medical specialists to remote incidents. Senator Christine (last name not specified in the transcript) said she planned to vote yes but asked for more information so members “have some idea of what we’re talking about.”

The committee proceeded to a roll call. Senators Chambers Armstrong, Berg, Carpenter, Douglas, Elkins, Smith, Storm, Wheeler, Williams and Wilson were recorded as voting aye; the committee chair announced the resolution was reported favorably. The committee record includes an exchange in which a member noted there was no committee substitute for the measure despite an earlier statement to the contrary.

The resolution is advisory: it directs study and coordination among legislators, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and industry representatives, and does not create regulatory authority or funding on its face. The committee’s favorable report sends the resolution forward for further consideration by the Senate.

Proponents said potential state benefits include economic development around airports and logistics hubs and medical-response uses in rural areas. Opponents or abstentions were not recorded in the transcript.

The committee then moved to other bills on the agenda.