Aumua and HCSB Examine How UAV’s Assist Small Businesses
Washington, D.C. – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata, Earlier this week, the House Committee on Small Business (HCSB) held a hearing titled, Taking Flight: Small Business Utilization of Unmanned Aircraft, to examine how small businesses will use unmanned aircraft for commercial activities in the United States.
"We must do everything we can to assist our American small businesses, including examining how these new technologies will enable them to grow and expand their operations," said Amata. "Due to the unique nature of this technology and the issues it raises in regards to public safety and privacy, it is our duty on this committee to make sure that we open the skies to our small businesses, but we must also take into account the unforeseen consequences that will arise," continued Amata.
Currently, commercial operations of unmanned aircraft are very limited; however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working towards safely integrating them into the national airspace system. Earlier this year, the FAA issued a proposed rule to permit small unmanned aircraft (those weighing 55 pounds or less) to operate for non-hobby, non-recreational purposes.
During the hearing, Congresswoman Amata questioned Mike Gilkey, CEO and Director of Flight Operations, 3D Aerial Solutions, regarding the challenges that companies like his face when dealing with the patchwork of rules and regulations that exist from state to state.
"As you may know, the FAA expects that once the regulation is finalized, small businesses will conduct the majority of commercial operations. There are numerous potential benefits for those small businesses who will utilize this technology, including a smaller carbon footprint and reduced operating costs to name just a few. Once again, the United States has the opportunity to revolutionize the way many industries do business and we must make sure that we maintain that advantage by coming up with uniform regulations that allow for open use, while maintaining public safety," concluded Amata.
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