Drone Industry Wants House, Senate Not to Act on Legislation Before FAA Group Issues Report

A coalition of 14 commercial drone associations and other groups is urging Congress to hold off on any legislation giving state and local governments regulatory power over drones before the Federal Aviation Administration's Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) issues a report and recommendations on the matter. An Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) news release Friday alluded to recent legislation (S-1272) introduced by Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; and Mike Lee, R-Utah, that would protect state, local and tribal governments' authority over the use of recreational and commercial drones. Most commercial drone operators want the FAA to regulate drone usage in the national airspace (see 1610130040 and 1609160003). "Legislating changes before consensus is reached may have dramatic unintended consequences that could stifle innovation, restrict economic growth and interstate commerce, and potentially compromise safety," said the coalition in a Thursday letter signed by AUVSI, the Commercial Drone Alliance, CTA, Drone Manufacturers Alliance, the Small UAV Coalition and others. DAC needs to evaluate the role of state and local governments in regulating drone operations (see 1705220035) and an agreed-upon framework is "essential for the future regulatory system," the letter said. It added the advisory committee is expected to issue a report this year on the subject.