Warner applauds new FAA ruling on unmanned aviation systems

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) applauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday for finalizing a long-awaited rule governing the commercial use of small drones.

“Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the potential to totally revolutionize our economy and way of life, on a scale similar to that of the invention of the wireless cell phone,” Warner said. “We need to be looking at how we can safely integrate drones into American airspace, both right now and for the future, and I applaud the FAA for moving the ball forward today. That said, we still lag behind many other countries in adopting this technology. I encourage the FAA to continue to work with stakeholders and industry to ensure that the United States stays globally competitive in fully embracing the potential of new innovation in unmanned technology.”

The new rule takes effect in late August and offers safety regulations for unmanned aircraft drones weighing less than 55 pounds that are conducting non-hobbyist operations. According to industry estimates, the new ruling could generate more than $82 billion for the U.S. economy and create more than 100,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.

Warner has been noted as an advocate for drone technologies, working with his colleagues from Virginia and Maryland to urge federal officials to select the mid-Atlantic region to host a UAS test range for researching the safest and most effective ways to incorporate UAS into existing airspace.