Senators Warner and Tune Introduce Legislation to Support Integration of Drones into Airspace
DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Tune (R-SD) today Better Competitiveness Against US Drone Laws in 2023a law that simplifies the approval process for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights and allows drones to be used for the commercial transportation of goods across the country.
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Each aircraft and BVLOS operation currently requires an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but the FAA does not have a consistent set of criteria for granting exemptions. The bipartisan Enhanced Competitiveness Act of U.S. Drone Law requires the FAA to establish rules to allow his BVLOS to operate under certain circumstances.
“Drones have the ability to transform the way we do business. Beyond delivering packages, drones can transform the way we grow crops, manage disasters, maintain infrastructure and manage medicines,” Warner said. said the senator. “If we want the drones of the future to be built in the United States instead of China, we need to start working on integrating them into our airspace today. , and as technology advances make the use of drones more common than ever, we will finally be able to start competing on a global level.”
“Drones have the potential to transform the economy, bringing transformative opportunities to transportation and agriculture, and benefiting rural states like South Dakota,” said Senator Toone. “We are proud to support this legislation that provides a clear framework for the approval of complex drone operations and facilitates the integration of these aircraft into national airspace systems.”
The new bill requires the FAA to establish a “risk methodology” to determine the required level of regulatory scrutiny. Operators of small UAS under 55 lbs are required to perform a risk assessment and declare that they meet the criteria. Meanwhile, operators of her UAS, which weighs between £55 and £1320, must submit risk-assessment-based materials to the FAA to obtain a “Special Airworthiness Certificate.” His UAS in this latter category may be restricted to operating up to 400 feet above the ground. UAS operators over £1320 will still be required to undergo a full type approval process.
The U.S. Drone Act Enhanced Competitiveness Act also establishes the status of “UAS Consolidation Associate Manager” and the UAS Certification Unit with sole authority to issue all rulemakings, certifications and waivers. This new central rulemaking body for UAS will make the process more uniform.
“Commercial drone operations provide valuable services to the American people and workers. Endangering U.S. global leadership International (AUVSI): “Regulatory challenges are hindered by bureaucracy, not by safety. and thank Senators Warner and Senator Thune for their support of this cause.AUVSI is proud to support this legislation and has asked Congress to approve the multi-year reauthorization of the FAA this year. I urge you to include this as part of the important work to pass the
“The Coalition is grateful to Senators Toon and Senators Warner for their leadership, and that this bill was introduced at a pivotal time for the drone industry. But now, in 2023, this progress is slowing as regulations and approvals continue to lag,” said the Small UAV Coalition. “This year is a critical time for the drone industry, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program reauthorization required by September 30.”
“The Commercial Drone Alliance applauds the introduction of the American Drone Competitiveness Act of 2023 and commends and appreciates Senators Warner and Senator Tune for their leadership on these important issues.” , said the Commercial Drone Alliance. “While the United States lags behind other countries in the development and deployment of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), this legislation will re-establish the United States as a global leader in advanced aviation and enable it to be more effective in the global economy. will give us the opportunity to compete against
Senator Warner, a strong proponent of research and investment in unmanned systems, previously submitted a bill It is intended to advance UAS development and assist in its safe integration into national airspace systems.Virginia has one of seven FAA-approved The senator visited the headquarters of Virginia-based drone delivery leader DroneUp in October of this year.
“Commercial drone operations provide a valuable service to the American public and workforce, but significant regulatory hurdles prevent them from realizing the full potential of these benefits, leading to a significant increase in America’s share of aviation. It’s jeopardizing global leadership.Regulatory challenges are hampered not by safety but by bureaucracy.Therefore, we urge Congress to prioritize drone integration and urge Senator Warner and We appreciate Senator Thune’s support for this cause,” added Michael Robbins. “AUVSI is proud to support this legislation and urges Congress to include it as part of this year’s important work to pass the multi-year reauthorization of the FAA. ”
The new law is fully visible here.
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Ian attended Dominican University in California and graduated with a BA in English in 2019. With his lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and keen interest in technology, he now contributes to his DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a fascinating observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. With her 3,000+ articles focused on the commercial drone space, Miriam is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and high tech she has over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing of new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, please email Miriam.
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