By: Ben Gielow

On 5 March, AUVSI’s President and CEO Michael
Toscano participated on a panel before the U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Aviation entitled, “How to Best Utilize FAA UAS Test Range Data.”  



Toscano highlighted the economic potential of integrating UAS
and stated AUVSI’s position that the FAA should not be responsible for
regulating privacy concerns. He also made the point that the commercial
UAS industry is already starting to form itself without FAA regulations,
and the delay in writing regulations has created a vacuum, which could
jeopardize aviation safety. Toscano said it is in the FAA’s best
interests to allow some limited commercial flights immediately to
alleviate built up industry pressure. AUVSI also suggested the UAS Test
Sites could be delegated the authority to certify UAS operations. 



Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) asked Jim Williams, manager of the FAA’s UAS
Integration Office, why small UAS are not allowed to fly 20 feet above
their crops for agriculture uses. Williams responded that UAS need to
ensure they do not crash into manned helicopters and crop sprayers
flying at low altitudes, and he pointed out the FAA is working with
Yamaha (which makes the R-Max) to certify their aircraft for agriculture
purposes. 



Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who was once critical of UAS several years
ago, talked about positive uses of UAS and voiced concern that the U.S.
may lose its competitive advantage to other countries while the FAA
delays integrating UAS into the national airspace system. 



Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee and a
member of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, noted that his
home state was selected as one of the test sites (with its partnership
with Virginia), and his Congressional district includes the FAA’s
Technical Center, which the FAA plans on using to collect, analyze, and
store the test site data. Rep. LoBiondo and his committee want to ensure
the test sites are a success and AUVSI will work closely with the
congressman and his staff to ensure the FAA stays on track and is
accountable.