Legislative Changes Reflect Evolving Landscape of Drone Operations
In a significant legislative shift, the North Carolina General Assembly has passed House Bill 198, effectively removing the requirement for a state uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operator knowledge test and permit. This decision follows sustained advocacy by AeroX and its members, who have played a crucial role in informing lawmakers about the advantages of drones and encouraging a supportive business climate for advanced drone operations in the state.
The UAS knowledge test and operator permit requirements were initially introduced in 2014 under Session Law 2014-100. These regulations mandated that both state/local government and commercial drone operators pass the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) UAS Operator Knowledge Test and obtain the NCDOT UAS permit, which had to be renewed biennially.
Basil Yap, President of AeroX, recounted the early legislative discussions. “There were significant concerns about the security and privacy of drone usage and a belief that the FAA was not moving quickly enough to capitalize on business opportunities,” Yap said. “One legislator even suggested that if the FAA wasn’t going to create a drone pilot license, the state would help push them along by passing our own.” At the time, the FAA did not issue drone operator licenses, a gap filled in 2016 with the introduction of the Small UAS Rule (Part 107) and the Remote Pilot Certificate.
Yap, who served as UAS Program Manager at NCDOT from 2016 to 2020, oversaw the establishment of the online knowledge test and permitting process. During his tenure, he also led North Carolina’s involvement in the FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program. Yap noted that drone operators often questioned why North Carolina required a UAS permit, seeing it as redundant alongside the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certificate.
Since its inception in 2021, AeroX has engaged regularly with the General Assembly to support the drone industry. AeroX’s initiatives included hosting a UAS Legislative Day in 2023 and the state legislature’s UAS Caucus in 2024, offering legislators firsthand insights into drone operations and facilitating discussions with industry stakeholders.
House Bill 198, titled DOT Legislative Changes, was introduced in February 2023 and reached the Governor’s desk in May 2024. Although initially vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper due to issues unrelated to UAS regulations, the House and Senate overrode the veto, enacting the bill into law on June 27, 2024. The repeal of Article 10 of Chapter 63 of the state’s General Statutes, which encompasses the UAS knowledge test and permit requirements, will take effect on December 1, 2024.
AeroX continues to champion North Carolina’s position as a leader in UAS innovation. By fostering an environment conducive to the growth of UAS technologies, AeroX aims to create a model ecosystem for advanced air mobility and serve as a testbed for pioneering companies.
For more information about AeroX, visit www.ncaerox.com.
Read more:
- North Carolina Drone Operator to Seek Further Review in First Amendment Lawsuit
- DRONELIFE Exclusive: Non-Profit AeroX on Developing Advanced Air Mobility in North Carolina
- North Carolina Grants AeroX $5 Million for Advanced Air Mobility Development
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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Check out the “State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Fact Sheet” published by the FAA. One of the items they list as being subject to preemption by federal law is “Establishing a licensing scheme for UAS pilots” and another is “Requiring air safety education or training”.
The feds remain that this area is under their purview.
NC should require the standard TRUST and FAA registration for all drones
What a cave in north Carolina.
There are hundreds of people unlicensed in my area alone.
Who are using drones to spy on women in their bathing suits who have swimming pools in their backyard.
That’s the recreation center of North Carolina and the unlicensed idiots who you have turned loose and kids to cause trouble with their neighbors and the sheriff office has no regulations to rein in the abuse.
This incredible Histerical incompetentence of misstep will lead murder and family respectfully
Gun violence to mitigation.
Our legislation is a masterpiece of professional proflic bribery and false flag yo yo brains.
Cry about gun violence and the children who are predicate devil’s advocate to harrass over flights to the neighbors house and property and pretty wives and the deer hunting stands being used for mobile crystal meth labs and the abilities of the drug dealers to see the police patrol.
What a shame to have no regulations.
Enclosed Hunting stands should be outlawed.
Mexican cartels are going on in the middle of the night cooking meth.
Motorcycle gangs are cooking meth in hunt stands supposed to be for deer hunting.
But they are used in the middle of the night for cooking crystal meth.
Drones fly unnoticed to surveillance on the crew cooking up meth labs so they can warn by a phone call look out here comes a sheriff car.
What idiots do we have in the legislation building huh? What kind of ferocious input from the sheriff’s office….in WAYNE COUNTY NC ITS THE FORMER HEAD OF NARCOTICS DIVISION FORMER DEPUTY SARGENT MIKE COX DISTRIBUTION HERE METHAMPHETAMINE NARCOTICS,PILLS, HEROIN
asoldiersprayer12@yahoo.com
Drones should be outlawed unless they are flown by a registered agent as pilot and the areas of overflights.