By: Mario D. Mairena

On 9 Sept., AUVSI’s Senior Government Relations Manager Mario Mairena
spoke before the National Association of State Aviation Officials
(NASAO) 83rd Annual Convention in Providence, Rhode Island. During the
NASAO conference, Mairena participated in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems
panel, which also featured Jim Williams, manager of the UAS Integration
Office of the Federal Aviation Administration. NASAO represents the
state government officials who serve the public interest in aviation.
NASAO still works with the state and federal governments to maintain the
safest and most efficient aviation system on the planet.



On 12 Sept. Mairena also presented at the 38th Annual Kentucky Aviation
Conference. For years the conference has assisted airports, aviation
organizations, local companies, and business individuals in building and
more dynamic partnerships. At the Kentucky event, Mairena was a
featured speaker in the session titled, ‘The Future for Unmanned Aerial
Systems In Kentucky,’ where he provided an in-depth perspective on the
issues affecting the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace
systems; such as federal and state anti-UAS legislative initiatives,
privacy, UAS economic potential, and outstanding issues industry is
working on towards the safe integration of UAS. Additionally, Mairena
pointed out UAS have the potential to provide benefits to airports,
including wildlife mitigation. Airports already use several wildlife
mitigation measures that range from air cannons and dog patrols to
lasers and traps. UAS can help augment these measures, providing
airports with a new perspective on the animals on its property and their
habitats. By keeping track of wildlife, the airport is better able to
prevent or mitigate the safety hazards they may cause. Airports can also
benefit from the surveying capabilities of UAS. The Salina Airport
Authority in Kansas, for example, has tested the use of UAS to monitor
floodwaters on its property.