Official Summary Text
SB1549 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
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COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1549
ultralight
vehicles; definition
Purpose
Defines
ultralight vehicle
and modifies the definition of
advanced
air mobility
to include an ultralight vehicle.
Background
Advanced air mobility
is an air transportation system that
primarily uses an electric aircraft that includes an eCTOL, eVTOL and powered
lift aircraft to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or regional area (
A.R.S.
� 28-8601
).
Beginning September 1, 2026, the Arizona Department of Transportation
must consult with stakeholders to develop a statewide plan or update the
statewide aviation plan to include public vertiports, electric aircraft
charging stations and advanced air mobility infrastructure needs. A political
subdivision may establish the location of public and private vertiports,
electric aircraft charging stations and advanced air mobility infrastructure
needs, as prescribed (
A.R.S.
� 28-8602
).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund
associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1.
Defines
ultralight vehicle
as a vehicle that meets all of the following:
a)
is used or intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a
single occupant;
b)
does not have a United States or foreign airworthiness certificate;
c)
if unpowered, weighs less than 155 pounds; and
d)
if powered:
i.
weighs less than 254 pounds empty weight, excluding floats and safety
devices that are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation;
ii.
has
a fuel capacity of less than five gallons;
iii.
does not exceed
more than 55 knots calibrated airspeed at full power in level flight; and
iv.
has a power-off
stall speed of no more than 24 knots calibrated airspeed.
2.
Modifies
the definition of
advanced air mobility
to include an ultralight
vehicle.
3.
Makes
conforming changes.
4.
Becomes
effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 5, 2026
LMM/ci
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB1549 - 572R - S Ver
Senate Engrossed
ultralight vehicles;
definition
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SENATE BILL 1549
AN
ACT
Amending section 28-8601, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to advanced air mobility.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 28-8601, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
28-8601.
Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Advanced air mobility" means an air
transportation system that primarily uses an electric aircraft, including
an
eCTOL, eVTOL
, ultralight vehicle
and
powered lift aircraft, to carry passengers or cargo in an urban or a regional
area.
2. "eCTOL" means an electric conventional
takeoff and landing aircraft.
3. "eVTOL" means an electric vertical
takeoff and landing aircraft.
4. "Powered lift aircraft" means 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.
5. "Ultralight vehicle"
means a vehicle that meets all of the following requirements:
(
a
) Is used or
intended to be used for manned operation in the air by a single occupant.
(
b
) Does not
have a United States or foreign airworthiness certificate.
(
c
) If
unpowered, weighs less than one hundred fifty-five pounds.
(
d
) If powered:
(
i
) Weighs less
than two hundred fifty-four pounds empty weight, excluding floats and
safety devices that are intended for deployment in a potentially catastrophic
situation.
(
ii
) Has a fuel
capacity of not more than five gallons.
(
iii
) Does not
exceed more than fifty-five knots calibrated airspeed at full power in
level flight.
(
iv
) Has a
power-off stall speed of not more than twenty-four knots calibrated
airspeed.
5.
6.
"Vertiport"
means 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.
END_STATUTE