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SENSEI'S INSIGHTS: THE BIG BEATIFUL BILL, MID-EAST, ARCHER, JOBY AND VERTICAL FLIGHTS - SATURDAY EVTOL SHOW WITH VAZ

Donald Trump signs The Big Beautiful Bill - what's its impact on AAM and eVTOL sector? Joby and Archer flying in Mid-East, Vertical Aerospace clocking in amazing mileage and much more.

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Jul 05, 2025
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🗽 The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ – Overview

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” – a sweeping 870-page budget and policy package that marks the centerpiece of his second-term agenda. It extends 2017 tax cuts, injects money into defense and infrastructure, and implements major cuts to welfare and green energy programs. Key highlights include a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase, strict new work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP, and a rollback of EV incentives. Among its standout investments is $12.5 billion earmarked for the FAA to modernize America’s aging air traffic control system, part of a broader push to “get America building again.”

Donald Trump after signing his megabill into law on Independence Day at the White House in Washington DC.

🛫 Air Traffic Control – Overhaul in Motion

The FAA’s air traffic control (ATC) system is finally getting a much-needed overhaul. Some facilities still rely on 1970s-era equipment, and this bill gives the FAA the tools to fix that. The $12.5B investment aims to digitize operations, replace outdated radar and telecoms, and consolidate aging en-route control centers. Importantly, the bill accelerates timelines already outlined in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, which requires full implementation of NextGen systems and a new “Airspace Modernization Office” by the end of 2025. This federal funding kick-starts what could be the largest ATC transformation in U.S. history.


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🛠️ Where the ATC Money Goes – Key Segments

The $12.5 billion is broken down into several upgrade areas:

  • $4.75B for communication networks and fiber-optic links

  • $3.0B to replace aging radar with modern surveillance systems

  • $1.9B to build a new consolidated ATC center and shut down older ones

  • $1.0B for merging outdated TRACONs (regional ATC facilities)

  • The rest covers things like remote tower systems, advanced weather sensors, surface safety upgrades, and controller training simulators. These upgrades will make the FAA faster, safer, and more adaptable to new types of air traffic – including drones and eVTOLs.

    Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, left, and Transportat...

🚁 Impact on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

This modernization directly benefits Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), including eVTOL aircraft. As these new vehicles prepare for commercial service, they need airspace that can handle low-altitude, high-frequency operations in urban environments. The bill supports this by funding surveillance, automation, and communication tools that allow ATC to monitor and manage thousands of small, electric aircraft in real time. It also indirectly helps vertiport development by enabling remote tower services and digital procedures. With FAA regulations for eVTOLs already underway, this investment lays the infrastructure foundation to support scaled AAM integration.

Archer

📅 Conclusion and Timeline

In summary, the Big Beautiful Bill provides the money and mandate for a once-in-a-generation transformation of U.S. aviation infrastructure. For AAM, it means fewer roadblocks ahead: more digital infrastructure, clearer rules, and better integration with existing systems. The FAA is under pressure to implement major parts of the overhaul by the end of 2025, with full ATC consolidation and capability expansion continuing through 2029. If timelines hold, early eVTOL operations could begin in 2026–2027, with broader adoption in the 2030s supported by a fully modernized air traffic system.

Joby eVTOL aircraft

🌍 Archer Flight in Dubai - PR market leader!

On July 2, 2025, Archer Aviation ($ACHR) marked a major international milestone with the first test flight of its Midnight aircraft at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. Conducted under the sweltering Gulf conditions of heat, humidity, and dust, this flight was the company’s first ever outside the United States and forms a key part of Archer’s “Launch Edition” program aimed at bringing eVTOL air taxi services to the UAE. The event was attended by senior representatives from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Abu Dhabi Airports, and Abu Dhabi Aviation—demonstrating strong regulatory and governmental support for Archer’s ambitions in the region.

🌍 A Strategic Leap Toward Global Deployment

The successful hover marks the beginning of operational testing in the Middle East, as Archer looks to validate Midnight’s design under extreme conditions. As part of the UAE’s broader vision to become a global hub for advanced air mobility, this test flight also reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to supporting next-gen transportation with infrastructure investments, such as hybrid vertiports and UAM corridors. The move expands Archer’s footprint internationally and aligns with the growing momentum for eVTOL adoption in the Gulf region, supported by initiatives from the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster.

🔍 Reality: A Hover to Hold Momentum

That said, this was only a short hover flight—essentially a low-risk demonstration. While symbolically important, it’s evident that Archer pulled this off largely to stay in the conversation and avoid falling further behind test flight frontrunner Joby Aviation

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