In coordination with DroneBase and the Drone Operators Federation, the Drone Operator Insight Series spotlights some of the people who are advancing the drone industry every day with their embrace of cutting-edge technology to do work better than ever. This week we hear from Saunders Staley, a pilot based out of Phoenix, Arizona who has been flying with DroneBase, since October 2016. We asked Saunders a few questions about the evolution of his drone pilot career, how drone technology is making a positive impact, and more.​

In coordination with DroneBase and the Drone Operators Federation, we're excited to bring you the Drone Operator Insight Series. The series aims to highlight a multitude of ways pilots are using drone technology for commercial purposes – from inspections to photography – to create job opportunities and support new and existing businesses across the U.S.  This week, we will be introducing you to David Taylor based out of Oregon.

​Today, the Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) (droneinnovation.org), in coordination with the Drone Operators Federation, is launching the “Drone Operator Insight Series” to highlight America’s growing small business drone economy. Through an ongoing series of blog posts and social media content, the new campaign will highlight the thousands of ways drone pilots are using this new technology for commercial purposes – from inspections to photography – to create job opportunities and support new and existing businesses across the U.S. 

​Today, the Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) (droneinnovation.org) — a Washington, DC-based coalition of manufacturers, operators, suppliers and software developers of personal and professional drones — proudly welcomes DroneBase (dronebase.com), the leading global drone services and asset management company, and the company’s tens of thousands of professional drone pilots to the organization. DroneBase, headquartered in Los Angeles, facilitates the largest network of professionally-trained, licensed drone pilots in the world; has flown tens of thousands of missions to date; and is building the most advanced technology to improve the drone operations layer

​A recent article from E&E News highlighted the role that ADI is playing to promote the use of drone technology during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The highlights ADI's partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to share information regarding the advancement of drone use for the response effort to COVID-19, quoting ADI Executive Director Jenny Rosenberg's comments on the role that drones can play during this unprecedented national emergency.  "The U.S. drone community is stepping up to the pandemic challenge through innovation, which is at the core of our culture," said Rosenberg. "We are excited to see the country embracing drones and accelerating their adoption as a forward-looking way to help our society navigate this difficult chapter in our history.

ADI is partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to share information from the agency in the advancement of drone use for the response effort to COVID-19. The FAA has told ADI that they are supportive of drone use during our national crisis, particularly for public safety operations. If you are using drones as part of the pandemic response, please let us know so we can highlight your story online and share with the FAA. We are also interested in learning about operations you would like to conduct, as well as any specific regulations that prohibit you from doing so. This information will help inform the FAA on operations that the drone community could conduct should the agency expand options for approved response operations.

​The Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) is encouraging members and the drone community to share with friends and colleagues in the manned aviation community - and request their participation in - the recently published FAA Request for Information (RFI) entitled, "Low Altitude Manned Aviator Participation In UAS Remote Identification.” The FAA is seeking input from manned aviators to understand "how manned aircraft pilots can voluntarily participate in or otherwise benefit from UAS Remote Identification (Remote ID) information." The agency is also interested in learning how the manned aviation can potentially receive and use UAS remote ID information to further enhance safety, by reducing collision risks at lower altitudes.

Ahead of today's Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs markup of the American Drone Security Act (S. 2502), ADI has submitted a letter to the Committee outlining our strong opposition of this misguided legislation. The letter emphasizes ADI's stance against country-of-origin bans on foreign-made drone technology, highlighting the real-world examples of how this law would negatively impact the drone community. It also calls out the potential ramifications for U.S. access to the global supply chain, as well as the risks the bill would pose for federally-funded drone operations across the board. "ADI and our member companies share your concern about the safety and security of all Americans, but the American Drone Security Act of 2019 is not the answer. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you anytime about a solution that meets your goals yet preserves the global supply chain that is critical to the lifeblood of our companies."

On Mar. 2, the Alliance for Drone Innovation (ADI) submitted a comment letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Remote Identification (Remote ID) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). ADI Executive Director Jenny Rosenberg noted that while ADI recognizes the need for this critically important rule, the NPRM, as written, is the wrong approach for the drone community. ​"ADI strongly supports the FAA’s efforts to formulate a Remote ID standard, as this crucial regulation will be the key to ensuring the safety and soundness of the NAS, while also allowing drone technology to flourish," wrote Rosenberg. "ADI respectfully suggests the FAA consider our recommendations for the areas where we have requested different solutions than the NPRM offers."