Austin News

The Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, has announced the establishment of a new Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) in Texas. The center, led by the Texas A&M System, will have laboratory and testing locations throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area and across Texas. This initiative is part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was championed by U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz.

Senator Cruz expressed his intent to bring the center to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, emphasizing, "When I authored the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, I wrote the language creating the Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies with the express intention of bringing that Center to the Dallas-Fort Worth area because of the groundbreaking innovation occurring there."

The program aims to drive research, development, and integration of advanced aviation technologies, such as drones, air taxis, and supersonic aircraft. Cruz noted the economic benefits, stating, "I’m confident this new research and testing center will help the private sector create thousands of high-paying jobs and grow the Texas economy."

Secretary Duffy highlighted Texas's suitability for the center, saying, "Texas is the perfect place for our new Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies. Under Senator Cruz’s leadership, the state has already established itself as a leader in commercial drone safety testing."

The CAAT Laboratory will be based at Texas A&M Fort Worth and will leverage the expertise of Texas A&M Corpus Christi's Autonomy Research Institute as a designated UAS test site by the FAA. This designation allows for controlled testing of unmanned aircraft systems, including those not yet approved for general use.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying, "We’re thrilled the Department of Transportation has selected The Texas A&M University System to lead the Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies in Fort Worth."

This initiative is a collaborative effort involving Texas universities and various educational and private organizations, including the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Dallas, and institutions like Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership.

The program's formation follows a roundtable hosted by Sen. Cruz, which included aviation industry leaders and representatives from the Autonomy Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.