A hearing yesterday before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's aviation subcommittee highlighted the “urgent need” for the FAA to issue federal regulations for the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry, according to NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “It is now more apparent than it’s ever been that we urgently need guidance, through the established rulemaking process, that produces a national regulatory framework that enhances safety and creates a reliable set of operating procedures for UAS operators and the broader public alike,” he noted.

A hot topic at the hearing was the FAA’s failure to meet the September 30 deadline—set by Congress in 2012—to implement regulations governing the use of small UASs. The agency issued a proposed framework earlier this year, though a final rule isn’t expected until next year.

NBAA has been directly involved for years in efforts to assist the FAA in moving ahead on UAS policies and regulations in a “deliberative, though expeditious, manner,” according to Bolen. “NBAA has long maintained that it is imperative that any introduction plan for UAS be focused on safety,” he added. “This means UAS should not share the same airspace with manned aircraft until they have equivalent certification and airworthiness standards as manned aircraft, including the ability to take timely directions from air traffic control, and to sense and avoid other aircraft and UAS.”