U.S. Rep. Yakym and Titus applaud new proposal expanding drone operations

Wednesday, Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, voiced support for Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s newly proposed rule to expand drone operations beyond visual line of sight.

“America should be a global leader in aviation safety and innovation,” Rep. Yakym said. “This proposed rule will change the game for innovators, manufacturers, and consumers. It’s the first step to safely integrating new entrants like drones into our airspace. I want to thank Secretary Duffy for his thoughtful leadership on this issue.”

“I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has finally published a notice of proposed rulemaking for beyond visual line of sight operations for drones, as required by provisions I led in the 2024 FAA reauthorization,” Rep. Titus said. “Regulatory certainty for BVLOS operations will unleash new commercial and public safety uses for unmanned aircraft systems. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with the members of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus to review the proposed rule and collect feedback from stakeholders.”

Background:

This proposed legislation comes on the heels of the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, where Rep. Yakym served as Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee.

The FAA Reauthorization Act included key elements of his bipartisan bill, The Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act (H.R. 3459), to unlock the potential of unmanned aircraft and maintain American leadership in next-generation aviation. It also included bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3989), which Representative Titus co-led, directing the FAA to issue a rulemaking on BVLOS operations.

Under the draft rule, drone flights would occur no more than 400 feet above ground level from predesignated locations, according to an FAA fact sheet. They could operate over people but not large open-air events like concerts or crowded parks, with population density factoring into various restrictions on flights.

Both Congressman Yakym and Congresswoman Titus were co-sponsors of the DEFENSE Act earlier this year which will help state and local law enforcement counter drone threats at stadiums.