In an op-ed for Morning Consult, former Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) emphasizes that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must retain autonomy over UAS integration into the National Airspace System. "Many public policy initiatives are best left to the states to decide — regulating the national air space is not one. The FAA and its federal partners are best suited to continue to oversee the safe integration of drones at any and all altitudes. The air space — like rivers — traverses across localities without being confined to boundaries. Varying standards for UAS operation from state to state or county to county or, conceivably, town to town would stunt most commercial or recreational uses this technology has to offer."

In an op-ed for The New York Daily News, New York City Councilman Justin Brannan discusses the need for the New York city government to modernize its statutes to allow for drones to be utilized for key public safety and commercial purposes. "​Plenty of people still have questions about drones, just like they do about any new technology. That’s reasonable, and there are good answers for them. This city can welcome drones and all the great things they can do while protecting everybody on the ground. When businesses, schools, nonprofits and city agencies can make use of increasingly versatile flying devices, it will show that New York is a city that embraces the future — and the jobs and benefits that come with it. As they say, the sky’s the limit."

​Fedscoop reports that the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit is working with Zipline to prototype UAS for battlefield emergency supply delivery. "DOD spokeswoman Elissa Smith told FedScoop the Pentagon is 'collaborating to experiment with drone systems in an effort to answer questions about how drone deliveries could improve medical care during conflicts, disasters, and humanitarian crises.' Zipline’s work with DOD also is to develop 'exercises' to deliver supplies within the 'golden hour,' or the time where care has a significantly higher chance of preventing death, Eric Gardiner, who works in global business development at Zipline, said during a panel on drone innovation at the U.S. Capitol in July." 

This post originally appeared in Commercial Drone Professional on June 4, 2019 

The Alliance for Drone Innovation is celebrating the first anniversary of the group’s launch with new initiatives. It says its aim is to support the voices of the country’s small businesses and independent commercial drone operators whose livelihoods are affected by federal, state and local by drone policies.​

​The Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) (droneinnovation.org) — a Washington, DC-based coalition of manufacturers, suppliers, and software developers of personal and professional drones — celebrates the first anniversary of the group’s launch with new initiatives to amplify and support the voices of the country’s many small businesses and independent commercial drone operators whose livelihoods are affected by federal, state and local by drone policies.

​The Kiama Independent reports on the use of drone technology by lifeguards in Australia that resulted in a successful rescue operation. “Kiama lifeguard and drone pilot Matt Burazin said they were grateful for the device in a recent emergency. ‘Drones have their uses outside of shark spotting,’ Mr Burazin said. ‘There was an incident a few weekends ago, a rescue at the blowhole, a drone helped us to spot the patient. Someone had fallen off the rocks near Black Beach. The drone was the first-responder.’ The rescue was carried out successfully.”

In an article for Axios, Executive Director Jenny Rosenberg explains that the U.S. national airspace system (NAS) is different compared to other countries, and presents challenges when it comes to integrating certain aspects of drone technology in the NAS. "This summer, Zipline will bring its fleet of delivery drones to North Carolina, where they will be used to deliver medical supplies to rural hospitals as part of the FAA's UAS Integration Pilot Program. Yes, but: The U.S. national airspace system is more complicated than Rwanda's, says Jenny Rosenberg, executive director of the Alliance for Drone Innovation...The U.S. has tens of thousands of commercial flights a day, plus military and general aviation flights. There's also a multitude of restricted zones, not to mention security and privacy concerns. The bottom line: The FAA's challenge is to balance the risks and opportunities created by all those drones without stifling innovation."

In an article for The JAMA Forum, ADI Executive Director Jenny Rosenberg highlights the FAA’s steps to integrate advanced drone operations that could, for example, enable prescription drug delivery in remote areas. "At the community level, the goal of safer, affordable, and greener travel can align transportation and health planning. The automobile industry is exploring a future for electric and autonomous vehicles with hopes that they can lead to improved fuel efficiency while lowering carbon emissions and deaths. Regulators are exploring urban air mobility that could reduce surface congestion. Private sector companies are closer to launching long-range electric-powered aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration is now moving toward establishing regulatory frameworks needed for beyond-line-of-sight drone operations that could, for example, enable prescription drug delivery in remote areas.”