Senate to Begin Hammering Out a Deal on FAA Reauthorization

Understanding the Significance of the FAA Reauthorization Act for the Drone Industry

The U.S. Senate has recently commenced the debate on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, a pivotal legislation aimed at enhancing aviation safety and airport improvements. This legislative package, which seeks approval before the existing FAA funding expires on May 10, includes a substantial allocation of $105 billion over five years for various FAA initiatives. These initiatives range from aircraft certification and oversight to technology upgrades at airports, as well as hiring additional air traffic controllers and inspectors to address the current workforce shortage, which is approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers short.

Furthermore, the bill proposes significant upgrades to aviation safety equipment, mandating that aircraft be equipped with cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders that can hold up to 25 hours of data, a substantial increase from the current two-hour requirement. This change is in response to incidents like the midair blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight, where crucial data was lost due to the recorder’s limitations, says a Law360.com article.

The significance of the FAA Reauthorization Act extends beyond traditional aviation, impacting the burgeoning drone industry as well. At the AUVSI New England UAS and AAM Summit, stakeholders highlighted the critical nature of this legislation for the drone sector. The Act’s passage is seen as essential for continuing the momentum towards more effective drone regulations. Notably, the bill includes directives for the FAA to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights within four months of enactment, addressing one of the most significant hurdles for the scalability of drone operations.

The drone industry has long sought a rule for routine drone operations beyond visual line of sight, moving beyond the current waiver and exemption process that has been a temporary solution for many in the industry. The FAA Reauthorization Act promises to provide the FAA with stable funding and clear directives to prioritize and expedite the integration of drones into national airspace, which is crucial for industries relying on drone technologies for advancements in delivery, surveillance, and other applications.