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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
advanced air mobility infrastructure
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to develop or upgrade a statewide aviation plan for advanced air mobility infrastructure.
Background
ADOT has exclusive control and jurisdiction over state highways, state routes, state-owned airports and all state-owned transportation systems or modes are vested in the department. Statute requires ADOT to cooperate with all state, local and federal organizations to encourage and advance the safe and orderly development of aviation in Arizona and allows the: 1) assembly and distribution of public information relating to aviation, landing fields, navigational aids and other matters pertaining to aviation; 2) accepting of federal monies made available for the advancement of aviation, the acquisition, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment or operation of airports and other air navigation facilities and sites for air navigation facilities or for any other purpose authorized; 3) representing of Arizona on issues of routing structures and rate schedules concerning commercial airline traffic; and 4) facilitating of development of a regional airport (A.R.S. §§ 28-332 and 28-8242).
An aircraft operating in Arizona must conform to design, construction and airworthiness standards prescribed by the United States or the appropriate federal agency for the navigation of aircraft subject to its jurisdiction. The governing body of a city or town or the board of supervisors of a county may acquire, establish, construct, own, control, lease, equip, improve, maintain, operate and regulate airports for the use of aircraft within or outside the limits of the city, town or county. A board of directors must operate and govern the airport authority. The board of directors is composed of persons appointed by the governing body of the cities, towns, Indian tribes or counties that are members of the airport authority. (A.R.S. §§ 28-8272; 28-8411; and 28-8521).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADOT, beginning July 1, 2026, to:
a) through consultation with political subdivisions of Arizona that own or control an airport, commercial air carrier, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other relevant stakeholders, develop or upgrade a statewide aviation plan to include vertiports and electric aircraft charging stations and the infrastructure needs of advanced air mobility;
b) designate a person who has expertise in advanced air mobility within the department as a resource for local and regional jurisdictions that are developing or implementing advanced air mobility, including an electric powered lift aircraft and electric aircraft; and
c) provide to local and regional jurisdictions a guidebook and technical resources to support uniform planning and zoning requirements across Arizona related to powered lift aircraft, vertiports, electric aircrafts and advanced air mobility.
2. Requires the person that ADOT designates as having expertise in advanced air mobility to establish working relationships with political subdivisions of Arizona that own or control an airport, commercial air carriers, the FAA, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and any other relevant stakeholders.
3. States that the vertiport and electric aviation planning requirement apply only to advanced air mobility, including an eCTOL, eVTOL, and a powered lift aircraft, that have both:
a) a gross takeoff weight of 300 pounds or more; and
b) the capability of carrying passengers or cargo.
4. Requires the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) to provide educational material to local and regional jurisdictions on the benefits of electric powered lift aircrafts and advanced air mobility.
5. Defines advanced air mobility as an air transportation system that primarily uses an electric aircraft, including eCTOL, eVTOL and powered lift aircrafts, to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or a regional area.
6. Defines eCTOL as an electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft.
7. Defines eVTOL as an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
8. Defines powered lift aircraft as a heavier-than-air aircraft that is capable of vertical takeoff, vertical landing and low-speed flight and that primarily uses engine-driven lift devices or engine thrust for lifting the aircraft during a takeoff and at least one nonrotating airfoil for lifting the aircraft during horizontal flight.
9. Defines vertiport as an area of land or water or a structure that is primarily used for the takeoff or landing of a powered lift aircraft, including associated buildings or facilities.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that the vertiport and electric aviation planning requirements begin on July 1, 2026.
2. Adds the requirement that ADOT develop or update a statewide plan for advanced air mobility through consultation with political subdivisions of Arizona that own or control any airport, commercial carriers, the FAA and any other relevant stakeholders.
3. Specifies that the statewide aviation plan include the infrastructure needs of advanced air mobility, rather than advances in aviation technology.
4. Specifies that the person designated by ADOT as having expertise in advanced air mobility be a resource for local and regional jurisdiction that are developing or implementing advanced air mobility, rather than advances in aviation technology.
5. Requires the person designated by ADOT as having expertise in advanced air mobility to establish working relationships with relevant political subdivisions of Arizona that own or control any airport, commercial carriers, the FAA, DOT and any other relevant stakeholders.
6. Specifies that the advanced air mobility requirements apply only to advanced air mobility aircrafts, rather than electric aircrafts.
7. Removes the state preemption of local ordinances relating to advanced air mobility.
8. Requires the ACA to provide educational materials to local and regional jurisdictions on the benefits of electric powered lift aircrafts and advanced air mobility.
9. Removes the requirement for ADOT to provide educational materials to local and regional decision-makers on the benefits of electric powered lift aircrafts and the advancements in advanced air mobility.
10. Includes, in the guidebook and technical resources that ADOT must provide to local and regional jurisdictions, vertiports and advanced air mobility, rather than advances in aviation technology.
11. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
RAGE 2/20/2025 DP 6-1-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 25, 2025
JT/JRM/ci