Brian Wynne, president and chief executive officer of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), today issued the following statement on the passage of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization extension.
“The FAA extension provides some short-term stability for the civil and commercial UAS [unmanned aircraft syste] industry. However, it is critical that Congress pass a long-term bill with provisions for expanded research, development, and operations that will allow the country to recognize the full societal and economic benefits of UAS, including the tremendous job creation potential of the industry.
“This extension measure overlooks the immediate need to reinstate federal registration of all UAS platforms, including recreational operators. The UAS registry promotes accountability and responsibility, and creates a culture of safety that deters careless and reckless behavior. Without this simple legislative fix, additional regulations that are needed to enable the UAS industry’s growth may continue to be stalled.”
