Legislators applaud FAA for progress with drone research program

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker was among a group of lawmakers who last week voiced their support for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to develop technologies and policies for drones in the United States.

The show of support came after the FAA also selected the Alliance of System Safety of Unmanned Aircraft Systems through Research Excellence (ASSURE), a group of universities led by Mississippi State University (MSU), to review issues that are critical to integrating drones into the U.S. airspace. 

“Advances in unmanned aircraft systems are making a big impact on the ways we live and work – revolutionizing how we engage with the world,” Wicker said. “These technologies help create tens of thousands of jobs, grow our crops more efficiently, improve our response to humanitarian crises and protect our troops. This consortium of research universities, led by Mississippi State University, will play a leading role in the future development of this exciting, emerging field.”

Joining Wicker in praising the FAA were Sens. Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with Reps. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Gregg Harper (R-MS).

“Unmanned aircraft technology is here to stay, and we are all excited that our states will have an active role in figuring out the safest and most efficient way to incorporate this evolving technology into our airspace to assist on issues ranging from precision agriculture to disaster recovery,” Cochran added. “We are interested in continuing to support what will be a collaborative process to address the complicated nature of integrating unmanned aircraft into our national airspace system, as well as privacy and other issues that arise with their use.”

The FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems should begin research this year, including reviewing the detect-and-avoid technology of drones, low-altitude operations safety and privacy safeguards. Researchers also will look at how  unmanned aircrafts can be used for emergency response, biofuel and clean fuel technologies, law enforcement activities, and agricultural and environmental monitoring.