A bill reauthorizing the U.S.&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through September 2017, passed by Congress with biparti­san support and signed by Pres. Barack Obama in July, contains key provisions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).&nbsp;Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Un­manned Vehicle Systems Interna­tional (AUVSI), said, “This FAA extension will provide short-term stability for the commercial UAS industry. Its provisions will help expand commercial operations, advance research and keep the air­space safe for all users – manned and unmanned.”&nbsp;Spokespersons from vari­ous industries offered their own respective takes on what the reauthorization means for UAS and industry.&nbsp;Oil and Gas&nbsp; Spokespersons for the energy and insurance industries com­mended Congress for the legisla­tion. Robin Rorick, midstream director with the American Petro­leum Institute, said, “The ability to use drones will allow the industry to use the latest technologies to continue to effectively monitor infrastructure and facilities while minimizing the risk to personnel.”&nbsp;Insurance&nbsp; Jimi Grande, senior vice president of federal and political affairs for the National Associa­tion of Mutual Insurance Com­panies, said UAS technology can assist policyholders during times of disaster.&nbsp;“Drones can go into disaster-stricken areas long before those areas can be established as safe for humans, which means damage can be surveyed and claims can begin to be processed far more swiftly to help victims begin their recovery process,” he noted.&nbsp;Electric Utility&nbsp; Tom Kuhnissued, president of the Edison Electric Institute, said, "With this legislation, Con­gress has made clear its priorities for the FAA, specifically highlight­ing the need for owners and op­erators of critical infrastructure to operate unmanned aircraft beyond visual line of sight.”

UAS NEWS | FAA reauthorization contains key UAS provisions.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

UAS NEWS | FAA reauthorization contains key UAS provisions