Last week, it was announced that AUVSI President and CEO Brian Wynne was reappointed to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) for another two-year term, allowing him to continue lending his experience and leadership to this important public-private advisory group.
Policy
Policy
Introducing: Assuring Autonomy
Welcome to AUVSI’s new blog, titled Assuring Autonomy. That brand may sound familiar, as our CEO and President Brian Wynne rolled out a video series spotlighting leaders within the unmanned systems industry under the same name in the summer of 2020. However, since the quest to increase knowledge about and familiarity with unmanned systems will be many-pronged in nature, the Assuring Autonomy brand will now encompass this blog as well as future iterations of educational videos.
FAA announces Remote ID and operations over people final rules for UAS
On Monday, December 28, 2020, the FAA announced two final rules for UAS. The new rules will require Remote Identification (Remote ID) of drones and allow small UAS operators to fly over people and at night under certain conditions.
Tacoma passes resolution supporting responsible recreational drone use
In September, the Tacoma, Washington City Council passed Resolution 40658 supporting responsible recreational drone use in Tacoma. The resolution directs the City Manager to establish a point of reference on the city's website connecting Tacoma community members to federally established laws and regulations, as well as recommended best practices.
Coronavirus Relief Package: What Unmanned Systems Businesses Need to Know
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law last week and created the Paycheck Protection Program, a $349 billion federal initiative that provides forgivable loans to blunt the impact of the virus by helping employers to maintain their payrolls. Join AUVSI and Wiley to learn how many of the CARES Act’s provisions can aid your business in making difficult decisions as we all contend with the effects of social distancing.
Speakers:
Tom Antonucci – Partner, Wiley
Brian Wynne – President & CEO, AUVSI
Registration:
Registration is free for all attendees. Register now to save your spot.
Webinar: Friday, April 3, 2020, 2:00 - 3:00 PM, ET, Coronavirus Relief Package: What Unmanned Systems Businesses Need to Know
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law last week and created the Paycheck Protection Program, a $349 billion federal initiative that provides forgivable loans to blunt the impact of the virus by helping employers to maintain their payrolls. Join AUVSI and Wiley to learn how many of the CARES Act’s provisions can aid your business in making difficult decisions as we all contend with the effects of social distancing.
AUVSI releases response to FAA's proposed remote ID rule
AUVSI has published a 27-page set of comments on the Federal Aviation Administration's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for remote identification, which would require drones to be able to report their positions, allowing police or other officials to determine who is flying a particular unmanned aircraft.
The issue is seen as enabling the wider use of drones for a variety of services such as package delivery, but the proposed rule has received significant complaints from the hobbyist drone flyers, who say it is too restrictive and would end their hobby. As of the afternoon of March 2, the last day to submit responses, the proposed rule had racked up more than 34,000 comments.
Sec. Chao releases version 4.0 of federal AV guidelines
Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the fourth iteration of the federal automated vehicle policy during a keynote speech at CES 2020.
Named Automated Vehicles 4.0: Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies, the guidance streamlines federal guidance for 38 government agencies, departments, commissions and others, Chao said, and is aimed at maintaining highway safety while allowing development on AVs to flourish.
"The takeaway from AV 4.0 is that the federal government is all in for safer, better and more inclusive transportation, aided by automated driving systems," she said.
Industry now responding to proposed remote ID rule for drones
The Federal Aviation Administration's proposed rule for the remote identification of drones has now been printed in the Federal Register, giving interested parties 60 days to respond.
AUVSI is reviewing the rules and will be responding, but in the meantime President and CEO Brian Wynne said he welcomes the move.
“The importance of remote ID regulations cannot be overstated, as they are necessary to enable advanced and expanded operations such as flights over people and beyond line of sight," Wynne said.
Regulators seeking to promote the AV industry while boosting safety
U.S. regulators are seeking to promote autonomous vehicle technology without picking favorites and with over-regulating the nascent industry, federal and state officials told attendees at the Automated Vehicles Symposium in Orlando.
"There is widespread recognition that automated vehicles will coexist with conventional vehicles and ad some point operate side-by-side with them on the highways," said Nicole Nason, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), who spoke on Wednesday.
"And to this point, I want to affirm the department's position this morning regarding freedom of the open road. We want to protect the freedom of all Americans to make mobility choices that best serve their needs."
