The Texas A&M University System has been chosen by the federal government to lead a new Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT). The CAAT laboratory will be located at Texas A&M Fort Worth, with testing locations sited across the Lone Star State.

Texas A&M Fort Worth is a Tier One research campus under construction in downtown Fort Worth that aims to have “a transformative impact locally and regionally.” The awarding of this federal advanced aviation lab is just one sign that goal is coming to fruition.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy made the announcement about the center, which will be led by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, leveraging the Autonomy Research Institute’s extensive experience as an FAA-designated UAS System Test Site.

The CAAT will leverage the region’s robust aviation sector and strong university network, Texas A&M said, noting that the center is a result of a provision authored by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. That act authorized the creation of a federal research center focused on innovative aviation technologies, including drones, air taxis, and supersonic and hypersonic aircraft.

The center will bring together 19 member institutions of the Texas A&M System, as well as partners from the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, and other organizations. This collaborative effort aims to create “a dynamic ecosystem” that fosters innovation, supports job creation, and drives investment in the aviation sector, Texas A&M said.

Rendering of Texas A&M-Fort Worth. [Image: TAMU]

Seeing DFW as a center of ‘groundbreaking innovation’

“I’m grateful to see the Texas A&M System leading this initiative and cultivating the next generation of aviation leaders,” Cruz said in a statement. “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. 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 through billions in new investments.”

Chairman Robert Albritton of the Texas A&M System said the system’s researchers “are eager to take on the challenges put forth by Sen. Cruz.”

“The airspaces of the United States soon will look very different,” Albritton said in a statement,” and I’m confident that A&M System experts will make the skies as safe as possible when the newest aviation technologies take flight. The entire board of regents enthusiastically look forward to this project and the difference in air safety it will make for all Americans.”

A hub for research and testing

The CAAT will serve as a hub for research and testing, Texas A&M said, adding that the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI) in Corpus Christi will conduct controlled testing of unmanned aircraft systems and other advanced technologies, facilitating the safe integration of innovative solutions into the national airspace.

Dr. Kelly M. Miller, president and CEO of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, said, “The university’s vision for growth in this cutting-edge field began 11 years ago when ARI first became an FAA test site. We’re deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by the A&M System and for the steadfast support we’ve received locally from the city of Corpus Christi and the Texas Legislature, which has been instrumental in advancing ARI’s mission and cultivating the next generation of aviation leaders.”

Winning out over nearly 30 entities across the U.S.

“Nearly 30 entities from across the nation fought hard to secure this opportunity, but the Texas A&M System was perfectly positioned to make this visionary endeavor a reality,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who will take over as chancellor of the A&M System in July.

“This initiative represents a significant opportunity to harness the expertise of our member institutions and drive innovation in the aviation industry,” the current system chancellor, John Sharp, said in a statement. “We’re committed to fostering collaboration among universities, private organizations and government entities to advance the integration of cutting-edge aviation technologies.”

Mike Sanders, the ARI’s executive director, noted that the FAA “is committed to advancing new and emerging aviation technologies, as well as innovative aviation concepts and services, including advanced air mobility, powered-lift aircraft, and other cutting-edge aviation technologies—all areas where ARI excels.”

“As highly innovative, yet undeniably disruptive, unmanned aircraft technologies reshape our skies, we acknowledge that sharing space with manned airspace is more than a technical challenge,” Sanders aded. “It’s a matter of doing it with transparency and safety.”

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