President Trump this week directed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao to launch an initiative to safely test and validate advanced operations for drones in partnership with state and local governments in select jurisdictions. The results of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program will be used “to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in our economy,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The program is aimed at addressing the most significant challenges in integrating drones into the national airspace while reducing risks to public safety and security. The FAA says it is “designed to provide regulatory certainty and stability to local governments and communities, UAS owners and operators who are accepted into the program.”