FAA achieves critical milestone with proposed rule on commercial UAV use, AUVSI's Wynne says

ARLINGTON, Va., 17 Feb. 2015. President and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Brian Wynne, calls the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA’s) proposed rule for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) "a good first step" to allow commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones.

"This proposed rule is a critical milestone in the UAS integration process, and one that is long overdue. UAS technology has largely remained grounded while many prospective users wait for the regulatory framework to catch up," Wynne says.

"This is a good first step in an evolutionary process that brings us closer to realizing the many societal and economic benefits of UAS technology,” Wynne continues. “We're currently reviewing the details of the proposed rule, and we look forward to addressing its specific provisions once we've had time to fully digest the rule.

“As an industry, we believe it's important that the final rule enables the many civil and commercial uses for UAS technology in a safe and responsible manner and without being unnecessarily restrictive."

An economic study by AUVSI found that the UAS industry is projected to create more than 100,000 jobs and $82 billion in economic impact in the first decade following the integration of UAS.

AUVSI was one of the founding members of Know Before You Fly, a safety campaign aimed at new and ongoing unmanned aircraft users. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta highlighted the campaign when he and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled the proposed small UAS rules.

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), a large nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics, represents more than 7,500 members from 60+ allied countries involved in the fields of government, industry, and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil, and commercial markets.