The Monterey Bay Drone, Automation, and Robotics Technology (DART) Initiative applauds the publication of the NAA Network Roadmap for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Aircraft Type Certification as a timely and strategic milestone in the global effort to harmonize airworthiness standards and accelerate the safe integration of next-generation aircraft technologies.

This international framework, developed by aviation authorities from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, offers clear alignment with DART’s mission to advance workforce development, infrastructure readiness, and ecosystem coordination for AAM implementation across California and beyond.

Relevance to DART’s Core Program Areas:

• Workforce Development:
  The Roadmap’s embrace of a crawl-walk-run approach to type certification — from piloted to remotely piloted and autonomous AAM aircraft — aligns directly with DART’s progressive workforce pipeline strategy. DART’s workforce programs, including the Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Pilot (AMAP) and Aircraft Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship (AMTA) with Joby Aviation, and the PVUSD RV-12 Airplane Build Lab prepare individuals at multiple skill levels for emerging roles in aircraft design, maintenance, and operations that will evolve as the regulatory framework matures.
• Infrastructure Planning:
  By harmonizing performance-based airworthiness criteria and supporting incremental certification of powered-lift and eVTOL aircraft, the Roadmap de-risks investment in infrastructure such as vertiports, test sites, and integrated airspace systems. DART’s collaboration with public agencies and airspace innovators is strengthened by this international validation pathway, enabling more confident local and regional infrastructure planning.
• Ecosystem Coordination:
  The Roadmap’s emphasis on collaboration, alignment, and shared Means of Compliance across nations mirrors DART’s cross-sector ecosystem approach. This includes convening events like the LIFT Summit and coordinating working groups that bring together regulators, OEMs, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to accelerate regional readiness for AAM deployment.

Looking Ahead:
DART encourages California-based stakeholders to engage with the principles and implementation timeline outlined in the Roadmap — including the use of consensus standards, multi-authority validation strategies, and updates to bilateral agreements — to ensure California’s leadership in the AAM economy is grounded in global best practices.

As the U.S. and its international partners continue to align regulatory pathways through the NAA Network, DART remains committed to shaping a future-ready, inclusive, and globally connected AAM workforce and innovation ecosystem.