Regulatory Framework for Drones Needed, Says CEA’s Shapiro

“For America’s drone technology to actually take flight, we need a regulatory framework that embodies a risk-based approach to integrating unmanned aircraft systems [into the national airspace] to maximize safety, utility and economic benefit,” said CEA CEO Gary Shapiro in a news release Wednesday. Shapiro’s comments came as the House Aviation Subcommittee held a hearing on ensuring aviation safety in the era of unmanned aircraft systems. “The drone industry is set to take off one-million flights per day within the next 20 years given the right regulatory environment,” for uses ranging from search and rescue to package delivery to filming movies to precision agriculture, Shapiro said. “Until the Federal Aviation Administration releases clear rules authorizing drones in the national airspace, the industry and CEA will continue to educate drone enthusiasts about the safe and responsible operation of drones through the Know Before You Fly campaign.”