As a part of the Drone Prepared and AAM Prepared initiatives, the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) tracked all legislation regarding drones and advanced air mobility (AAM) introduced during this year’s state legislative sessions. Based on AUVSI’s analysis of over 150 measures introduced in statehouses, this year’s legislative sessions saw both recurring topics and emerging new trends. Topics AUVSI has tracked over multiple state sessions, including this year’s, include operations near critical infrastructure, contraband delivery, and aerial trespass. Legislation supporting state agency use of UAS retained its positive trend line this year. For example, the supplemental appropriations bill passed in Alabama included robust funding for the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to purchase and use drones, alongside passing AUVSI’s recommended legislative language and accompanying funding to support AAM operations in the state. Response to UAS security warnings issued by federal agencies was a topic that emerged in 2023 and grew during the 2024 sessions. Lawmakers in 12 states — Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Connecticut, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, and West Virginia — proposed measures that would prohibit state agencies from purchasing UAS from covered foreign entities. An area where AUVSI tracked a heightened focus in 2024 was the weaponization of drones and robotics. Lawmakers in six states — Connecticut, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts —proposed measures that would prohibit equipping UAS with a weapon.Looking Ahead As the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA” or “the Agency”) Reauthorization Act of 2024 is implemented, AUVSI is anticipating three areas to receive attention at the state, local, and tribal levels: Public perception of commercial drone operations, guidance on law enforcement use of drones, and programs for state agencies like DOTs to use drones. First, the FAA Reauthorization law grants the Agency flexibility for approving risk-based and performance-based waivers and exemptions that allow drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The FAA has made more progress within the last year than many previous years combined on approving BLVOS waivers and exemptions. AUVSI is urging the Agency to maintain that trend even as it works on Part 108 BVLOS rulemaking. As UAS operations are brought to scale and conducted over populous areas and ground traffic, the public will become more aware of the drone industry than ever before. One obvious example is the expansion of drone delivery operations in North Texas. The FAA recently approved flights leveraging unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) with no visual observers for multiple companies in the area. Second, as more law enforcement agencies receive tactical BVLOS waivers and adopt Drones as a First Responder (DFR) programs, more legislation on this topic is anticipated. Relevant state measures that AUVSI tracked in 2023 and 2024 include language about privacy and access to collected data, bans on facial recognition technologies on police drones, and other guidance for law enforcement agency use of UAS. Third, the FAA Reauthorization law also authorizes a grant program for local, state, and tribal governments to purchase and use drones for critical infrastructure inspections and construction projects. Pending full funding of the program, AUVSI anticipates seeing more measures around state use of UAS in 2025 and beyond. States will want to be involved in grant programs that provide meaningful benefits for their infrastructure projects, and industry will benefit from opportunities to collaborate with agencies using drones. These grant programs are not only focused on procurement, but also on necessary training for drone users, a strong element in continued workforce development growth.Recommendations for Our Industry’s Future In preparation for the new AAM Prepared initiative that launched this year, AUVSI analyzed every report issued by state AAM study committees nationwide to date. Among the top five themes that were uncovered, there was a repeated emphasis on the importance of outreach to local communities. Specific recommendations included town halls in locations of interest, discussions with local leaders, and creating opportunities for stakeholders to raise concerns directly with interested companies. The commercial drone industry can also learn from these recommendations and consider them when seeking to build local community engagement and trust. AUVSI’s analysis of local media coverage and social media listening tools during this year’s state legislative sessions uncovered an increased, positive narrative about the role of UAS in filling workforce gaps and increasing job site safety. This included the agriculture, construction, inspection and survey, and small package delivery sectors. As the industry conducts outreach to communities, there is an opportunity to maintain this momentum by focusing on tangible workforce benefits that widespread UAS operations bring. Through the Drone Prepared initiative, AUVSI has a strategy for engaging with and educating state and local lawmakers about the benefits drones will bring to their communities. AUVSI is optimistic about the industry’s outlook and the power of drones to transform how we move people and goods, conduct critical missions like public safety and infrastructure inspection, and unlock a more equitable aviation future.Authors:&nbsp; Scott Shtofman, Director of Government Affairs &amp; Chelsie Jeppson, Director, Communications at&nbsp; Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems&nbsp; International (AUVSI)&nbsp; www.auvsi.orgCONTRIBUTION: The claims and statements made in this article belong exclusively to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of UAS Magazine or its advertisers. All questions pertaining to this article should be directed to the author(s).Printed in the 2024 issue of UAS Magazine/Directory

2024-09-18 - Strategy Toward Advancement (UAS Magazine)

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