Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the AAM SAF topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee highlights Terrebonne SAF grant, seeks FAA test site in Gulf; discusses international UAM ties
Summary
Committee briefed members on a grant to design a 30,000‑gallon SAF distribution facility at Terrebonne/Houma, a pending $22 million blending plant, and ongoing efforts to persuade FAA to authorize Gulf test areas beyond 12 miles; the committee also recapped international outreach to South Korea.
The committee’s meeting on Nov. 15 included an update on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) infrastructure at the home of Terrebonne Airport and continued efforts to secure FAA authorization for Advanced Air Mobility testing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said the committee received an initial grant (about $2,300,000 in combined state, local and FAA AIP dollars) to build a 30,000‑gallon SAF distribution facility and that a separate, larger blending plant proposal near the Port of Houma is estimated at about $22,000,000. "We just got, which is to build a small distribution plant of 30,000 gallons," the chair said, adding the blending operation would be sited off‑airport to allow barging of feedstock and blended fuel.
The chair described outreach to the FAA after Congress included language in the FAA reauthorization bill that enables a Gulf test center; he said MassDOT and FAA officials have discussed a process to integrate emerging AAM/UAM technologies into the national airspace and that the committee enlisted the Louisiana congressional delegation to urge FAA Administrator Whitaker to move on a Terrebonne test site.
"That letter just went out, recently, to make that happen," the chair said, describing the delegation’s role in pressing for a timely FAA response. He also cautioned the committee that international rules under ICAO and current Certificates of Authorization constrain operations beyond 12 nautical miles, and that additional FAA/ICAO guidance will be necessary to expand testing further offshore.
Committee member Thomas Mule asked whether the SAF project is a state program or private development; the chair answered that Terrebonne is a public airport hosting infrastructure that will be available to tenants and private operators, and that future capacity increases will depend on nearby production and commercial demand.
The chair additionally described international engagement: Louisiana presentations in South Korea and participation in the Global UAM Regional Summit (GURS), where he said Terrebonne/Houma became an early airport member and the committee exchanged best practices with global partners.
Because the meeting lacked a quorum, committee members did not vote on policy or funding; the chair closed the meeting and requested member attendance at the Dec. 19 session to finalize legislation and guidance for submission to lawmakers and the executive branch.
Next steps: design work for the 30,000‑gallon distribution facility will proceed once grant funds are available; the committee will continue to press FAA on test‑site authority and monitor pending blending plant funding.
