Congressman Mike Turner joined with Congressman Frank LoBiondo, fellow members of the Unmanned Systems Caucus and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) leadership to discuss the timeline on FAA selection of six Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) test sites. The site selection process was established by language which Turner and fellow lawmakers included in the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Moreover, Turner also included language in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which promotes collaboration among government agencies on UAS. Specifically, Turner’s language requires collaboration among scientific and technical personnel and resource-sharing from the Department of Defense, FAA, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“Today’s meeting was encouraging. The process is moving forward and southwest Ohio continues to have a great opportunity to expand on the development of Unmanned Aerial Systems. I look forward to working with the FAA and other government agencies as they move towards a final decision,” said Turner.
 Turner meets with Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) and FAA leadership. |
Recently, the FAA postponed the site selection timeline. Members of the Unmanned Systems Caucus, including Turner, sent a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta expressing their concerns with achieving the integration timelines as required by both the NDAA and FAA bills.
“We are seeing progress by the FAA as they move to fully integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems into national airspace. Unmanned aircraft are an evolving technology that will play an increasingly larger role in modern aviation. However, lack of special use airspace to research UAS technologies and detection techniques is a potential impediment to the nation’s ability to develop this important tool, and we cannot afford further delay,” added Turner.