Who We Are
The Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) is the leading policy voice for manufacturers, suppliers, and software developers of professional and personal drones. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance proudly supports policies that encourage the growth of the unmanned aircraft industry for personal, professional, educational and governmental use. Alliance members are the nation’s industry leaders and corporate visionaries who are responsible for creating the vibrant drone ecosystem of today, and who will lead us to the future applications of tomorrow.
There are significant economic and social benefits to drone operations in the U.S., and industry must work with policymakers to ensure a safe environment for flying. ADI believes a carefully balanced regulatory framework requires input from all stakeholders and must recognize the value and necessity of continued technological innovation. By highlighting innovation and emphasizing education, we work with policymakers to ensure drones continue to be safely integrated into the national airspace.
There are significant economic and social benefits to drone operations in the U.S., and industry must work with policymakers to ensure a safe environment for flying. ADI believes a carefully balanced regulatory framework requires input from all stakeholders and must recognize the value and necessity of continued technological innovation. By highlighting innovation and emphasizing education, we work with policymakers to ensure drones continue to be safely integrated into the national airspace.
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The Need for Advocacy
The ongoing innovation and potential for the future of unmanned flight relies on a federal government that accurately take into account the safety of our products and an appreciation of their “state of the art” technology. As an Alliance member, you will be represented by a strong voice in Washington that champions the continued, safe, and widespread use of unmanned aircraft today for recreational flyers and innovative businesses — and looks ahead to the future to ensure that the promise for our industry remains unburdened by arbitrary or reactive regulations and standards.
What’s on the Horizon?
The interest and excitement around unmanned aircraft has engaged lawmakers at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as regulators and policymakers across federal departments and agencies. The Alliance's goal is to focus on monitoring movement and advocating for policies that benefit our industry and the drone-using public.
- Congressional Activity - In 2018, the U.S. House and Senate will continue to work on a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that will contain various provisions and requirements relating to unmanned aircraft. With more than one million people registered with the FAA to fly their drone recreationally — reflecting the growing enthusiasm for hobby drone use — the preservation of Section 336, the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, is more important than ever. Protecting the current carve-out for recreational drone users will ensure that new recreational pilots have a pathway to flight and that potential innovators of our industry are not thwarted by unnecessary regulation. Additional proposals are being introduced to permit government agencies to hack, disable, or destroy a drone without clear standards, without legal recourse for the owner, and without clarity on whether a manufacturer or supplier may be liable for the injuries that could be caused in those scenarios.
- Federal Regulatory Challenges - In 2017, the FAA convened an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) relating to Remote Identification and Tracking. Remote ID could require the addition of hardware or software to each drone and potentially costly, burdensome or invasive requirements on drone users. Regulatory proposals are under consideration for flights-over-people that are anticipated to require manufacturers to conduct extensive safety testing.
- State and Local Government - States and local governments have been very active with their own legislation, including bills proposing equipment mandates and inconsistent, conflicting rules. When appropriate, the federal government should be encouraged to pre-empt these standards and prevent a patchwork of unworkable state laws and regulations that can lead to confusion and a reduction in safety.