In letters to committees in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, AUVSI has urged lawmakers working on a reauthorization bill for the Federal Aviation Administration to include legislative proposals that would give the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice authority to mitigate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that are used for nefarious purposes, while maintaining the FAA’s exclusive sovereignty over the airspace.
“Advancements in UAS are developing at a rapid pace, and the positive impact of this innovation on our economy, lifestyle and society is tremendous,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. “To tap into the full benefits of UAS, however, we must ensure that our skies remain safe and secure.
“By granting authority to government agencies to mitigate threats, they can quickly act to stop them. Stricter enforcement against careless, reckless and other potentially malicious behavior will not only punish operators who misuse UAS technology but deter others from doing so.”
The letters also emphasized the importance of establishing remote identification standards for all UAS operators, which will enable law enforcement officials to identify, track and apprehend unlawful operators, in real-time. By doing so, remote ID could help alleviate security concerns raised by expanded UAS operations, such as flights over people or nighttime operations.
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for flights over people was scheduled to be issued more than a year ago, but this next regulatory step to advance the UAS industry has been indefinitely delayed due to security concerns.
“Until we address policy for counter-UAS and move forward with rulemaking for remote identification, expanded operations and further integration of UAS into the airspace will remain stalled.”
