U.S. Reps. Express Concerns over Drone Remote ID Delay
On Tuesday, several leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to express concerns with the FAA’s lack of a rule requiring remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
In their letter, the U.S. representatives said, “We write to register our ongoing concerns regarding the continuing delay in the issuing of the Federal Aviation Administration’s rule requiring remote identification for unmanned aircraft systems and urge you to dedicate the necessary staff and resources for the rapid publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking on this subject.
“Based upon briefings by the Executive Branch over the last several years, we believe failure to complete this effort poses serious risks to the National Airspace System, its users, and the nation’s most critical and sensitive facilities and assets.
“Delays also stifle innovation, preventing the U.S. commercial UAS industry from reaching its full potential,” they wrote.
The letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, committee chair; Sam Graves, ranking member; Rick Larsen, aviation subcommittee chair; and Garret Graves, ranking member. It was sent to Elaine Chao, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation; Daniel Elwell, acting administrator of the FAA; and Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Congress made modifications in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to ensure the agency could move forward on its drone remote ID rule, and although the FAA initiated the rulemaking process more than one year ago, the publishing date has been delayed.
The full letter can be read here.