Los Angeles-based Surf Air Mobility has become the first Part 135 passenger operator to join the FAA-sponsored Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies Consortium.
The announcement on May 13, 2026, marks a significant step for the company as it positions itself at the forefront of efforts to integrate next-generation aircraft into the National Airspace System. CAAT, operated by the Texas A&M University System following its selection by the FAA in April 2025, serves as a hub for research into electric propulsion, autonomy, air taxis and other emerging technologies.
Membership grants Surf Air eligibility to compete for FAA-funded task orders reserved for consortium participants, involvement in specialized working groups, and direct collaboration with regulators, universities and manufacturers. The company says this provides valuable insight into the regulator's development priorities while enabling it to share its extensive operational dataset and proprietary tools.
"The CAAT gives us a direct connection to the FAA's research and development priorities that will shape the future of aviation," said Deanna White, CEO of Surf Air Mobility. "Membership puts us alongside the organizations defining how next-generation aviation technologies integrate into the national airspace and positions us to leverage the impact of our operational, data, and AI-enabled software capabilities."
Acting CAAT associate director Albert Bejarano noted that Surf Air strengthens the consortium by contributing practical experience from daily operations along with advanced software platforms. The first task order, awarded in February 2026 to SkyGrid, a Boeing subsidiary, focuses on tools for cooperative aircraft separation through simulation and concept development.
During the first quarter of 2026, Surf Air carried more than 65,000 passengers through its Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines operations using conventional turboprops and jets. While those flights relied on traditional aircraft, the company is aggressively pursuing electrification suitable for its typical 50-to-500-mile regional routes.
Surf Air placed a firm order for 25 Beta Technologies Alia aircraft, with options for 75 more, and serves as the launch customer for passenger operations of the model in Hawaii. A cargo variant demonstration is scheduled for June 2026 in the islands. The company also has an exclusive partnership with Textron Aviation to develop electric and hybrid-electric versions of the Cessna Grand Caravan EX expected to reduce emissions by half without performance loss.
At the core of Surf Air's approach is its SurfOS intelligent operating system, built on Palantir's Foundry platform already used extensively by the FAA. The AI-driven suite handles dynamic pricing, crew scheduling, aircraft sourcing and recovery from maintenance issues. BrokerOS is currently deployed with several independent users, with OperatorOS slated for release later in 2026. The platform is engineered to support both existing Part 135 activities and future advanced air mobility vehicles.
By embedding an active operator with electrification experience and data analytics capabilities into CAAT, the FAA gains practical perspectives as it updates rules for powered-lift aircraft and urban air mobility concepts. Industry partnerships like this are viewed as critical for translating research into safe, scalable commercial operations.
Surf Air's fleet currently features models well-suited to regional electrification, including the Cirrus Vision Jet, Hondajet, Piper Meridian and various Beechcraft, Cessna and Pilatus turboprops. The addition of eVTOL and hybrid-electric types is expected to expand its on-demand and scheduled regional network while aligning with broader sustainability goals.
The development reflects continued momentum from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, which supported creation of the center. With CAAT now operational and adding key industry members, progress toward routine advanced air mobility flights appears to be accelerating.