As the Senate re-examines S.2658, their version of the 2016 FAA Reauthorization package, drones are once again front and center to the argument as Senators fight to be seen by their constituents as supporting drone safety and their own state interests.
Yesterday, Senators unanimously passed four drone-related amendments to the bill, each showing the individual Senators’ special stake in the industry.
Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Drone Operator Safety Act. Despite existing regulations designed to prevent drones from flying within 5 miles of airports, the Act makes it a criminal offense to so so; imposing penalties of fines and/or prison time.
“I am pleased that the Senate has adopted my amendment to protect passenger aircraft from drones,” said Whitehouse in a statement. “Drones are a promising technology, but we need to ensure they’re used safely and responsibly. This legislation sends a clear message: keep drones away from airplanes and airports.”
Rhode Island was one of the first states to establish a committee to evaluate drone integration on a state level; protesters concerned about privacy violations by drones have been vocal in the state capitol.
Senator Hoeven of North Dakota introduced an amendment that would extend the current testing programs from their planned expiration in 2017 to 2022. Senator Hoeven has been working with the airforce to try and bring drone testing to the Grand Forks military airbase in his state.
Senator Inhofe (R-Okla.) offered an industry-supporting amendment that would require the FAA to clarify and report on the new approval procedure for drone operators. Oklahoma has been trying to build their drone industry around the strong aircraft production environment and agricultural sector in the state; earlier this month the senator spoke about an amendment which would allow critical infrastructure to use drones. In that speech, the senator spoke out about what he called “government red tape that is a stranglehold on innovation and delays the adoption of new safety technologies in the aviation sector.”
Finally, Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran introduced an amendment that he said would “streamline drone research efforts.” The Cochran amendment would strengthen the position of the FAA Center for Excellence on unmanned aircraft systems (COE) based out of the Mississippi State University, requiring the FAA to collaborate with the center on drone policy.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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I am so pleased that Senator Whitehouse introduced such and in-depth, thoughtful and provoking bill to protect aircraft from these horrible drones. I would have no idea until reading this bill that I should not fly in the path of airplanes coming and going from an airport. Thank you Senator. You served you constituents well. Now, let us grown-up UAV pilots get back to work.
…”This legislation sends a clear message: keep drones away from airplanes and airports.”…
Let’s look at the “clear message” shall we?
Number of deaths caused by civilian airplanes…
Over 10,000
Number of deaths caused by civilian drones…
0
That’s right, ZIP, NADA, ZERO.
Are you sure your priorities are in order Senator?
…”This legislation sends a clear message”… Yes, yes it does Senator. That message seems to be that some Senator is ill informed since he is seeking to wrap his ignorance with the buzz words of the day and pandering to the irrational fear mongering of shock press sensationalism.
The Mercatus Center of George Mason University have produced a new study about drone risk to airplanes.
The risk that small drones pose to passenger aircraft is negligible. Not only negligible, but meeting the FAA’s own definition of “acceptable risk.”
I assume it takes something
to be a Senator, but it would seem that “common sense” may not be that something.
Pork, bluster, and campaigning. Meanwhile responsible hobbyists and 85 year safe operation of model aircraft and the wholesome hobby of model aviation get trampled. What happened to the “community based organization” clause of Section 336?