AUVSI New England UAS and AAM Summit: Industry Implications for Evolving Regulations

Last week, Max Rosen sen from AUVSI Headquarters attended AUVSI New England ’s UAS and AAM Summit 2023. AUVSI New England is an active AUVSI Chapter that includes individuals and member companies all across the New England region. ?

Max participated in a panel discussion moderated by Jeffrey Vincent , Executive Director of the UAS Integration Office and a key FAA champion on UAS and AAM issues. He also had the opportunity to engage with several state-level aviation and aeronautics officials who took a keen interest in AUVSI’s Drone Prepared campaign.?

Below is his recap of top takeaways from the event:?

Held over the course of two days at the Northeastern University Innovation Campus at Burlington, the New England UAS and AAM Summit was widely attended by government officials and drone and Advanced Air Mobility stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels.

Key FAA officials were also in attendance, including those from the FAA’s UAS Integration Office and FAA’s Security and Hazardous Materials Safety Office.? ?

The event featured:?

• Two days of robust programming,?
• Companies showcasing impressive technology,?
• Networking events and opportunities,?
• Live demonstrations utilizing the Northeastern University Innovation Campus’s unique infrastructure and capabilities,?
• Presentations from students across the region utilizing UAS technologies for various use cases (one such example being students utilizing drones for surveying and data gathering following floods in Vermont),?and?
• Students from communities that are underrepresented in the drone industry who have created drone clubs and are keenly focused on STEM education related to UAS.??

Panel Discussion: Industry Implications for Evolving Regulations?

The panel discussion covered the significance of FAA Reauthorization and recent policy developments that establish the framework for complex UAS and AAM air vehicle operations. ?

AUVSI has undertaken advocacy efforts over the last year-plus on the FAA Reauthorization bills currently moving through Congress. We worked to help secure language in the legislation related to BVLOS operations and rulemaking, UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Operations Over the High Seas, and UAS Test Sites,?in addition to AAM issues such as the Special Federal Aviation Regulation for eVTOL aircraft.?

In both federal legislation like FAA Reauthorization and state level issues, like those covered by AUVSI’s 50 state Drone Prepared initiative, stakeholders can make their voice heard throughout the process by engaging elected officials at all levels of government.?

After the final FAA Reauthorization bill is enacted into law, all stakeholders will have an important role to play in holding Congress accountable to conduct robust oversight of the FAA’s implementation of key mandates.?

The panel also discussed the recently averted government shutdown and the importance of long-term funding for the FAA and the federal government writ large, which is necessary to provide stability and continuity of critical work and programs. ?

Another key focal point was the importance of key expiring authorities, including those afforded by Section 44807, UAS Test Site authorities, and C-UAS authorities for the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, which were just extended by Congress in the recently enacted Continuing Resolution. ?

Learn more about AUVSI’s Air Advocacy priorities on behalf of our members and UAS / AAM stakeholders here and learn more about our priorities for 2023 FAA Reauthorization here.?