releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8f49986e-65a2-4649-a361-e77f45b85473
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=8f49986e-65a2-4649-a361-e77f45b85473 | Heitkamp & Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on FAA to Move UAS Industry Forward | 2014-11-25 | 2014 | 2014-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp and a bipartisan group of five Senators pressed the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for answers on the progress the agency is making to improve the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site program, and avoid delays that could hinder innovation and the growth of the industry. In April, Heitkamp helped announce that Grand Forks became the first UAS Test Site in the nation to be officially up and running. Across the country, the UAS industry has already created thousands of jobs, and has the potential to benefit search and rescue operations, energy and agriculture production, as well as other commercial businesses. Despite this positive impact on local economies, the FAA has not made it easy for the UAS Test Sites to work with private industry, and has failed to provide the overall UAS industry with needed safety and privacy guidelines. Heitkamp voiced concern that the FAA will miss its September 2015 deadline to integrate UAS technology into federal airspace for commercial use, and wants to make sure the FAA takes steps to meet that deadline and support UAS development in North Dakota. Grand Forks is on the forefront of this burgeoning UAS technology, which is already growing jobs, communities and businesses across the country, said Heitkamp. But even though its Test Site has been up and running since April, the FAA needs to do more to make its Test Site program a success, including providing needed flexibility and guidance so private industry can work with Test Sites to develop UAS technology and strategies. Thats why Im calling on the FAA to efficiently do its job and provide the most basic and necessary standards this industry needs to take its first steps out of infancy. UAS technology has the potential to help grow agriculture and energy production, search and rescue techniques, and commercial businesses and its already created thousands jobs at home in the U.S. Ill continue working with the FAA to get this innovative project moving, just like Ive been doing since last year when I brought FAA Administrator Huerta to Grand Forks. The FAA must provide this industry with the proper direction to help it take flight. Heitkamp strongly advocated for the selection of Grand Forks as a UAS Test Site in numerous meetings with top Administration officials, including FAA Administrator Huerta. In April, Heitkamp brought Huerta to North Dakota, where he announced that the Grand Forks-headquartered Northern Plains Unmanned Systems Authority, which was selected to be one of six UAS test sites nationwide in December, as the nations first officially running UAS site. As a co-founder of the Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp has also helped develop an Enhanced Use Lease between the Air Force and Grand Forks County, to further grow the UAS industry in the area. Click here or see below to read the full letter Heitkamp and four other Senators sent to FAA Administrator Huerta: November 25, 2014 Mr. Michael P. Huerta, Administrator Federal Aviation Administration 800 Independence Ave. SW Washington, DC 20591 Dear Administrator Huerta, We write to request an update on the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) ongoing process to regulate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Mindful of the great task the FAA has in front of it to regulate the commercial use of UAS within the federal air space for the first time; we remain concerned about the impacts that continued delays in the process are having on the American UAS industry and the national economy, and the safety risk posed by expanding unlicensed operations. The United States has a growing UAS industry that has a significant impact on local economies, creating thousands of jobs, and benefiting areas such as search and rescue, commercial businesses, and energy production. To research UAS technology and determine appropriate industry regulations and standards, Congress charged the FAA with establishing six UAS test sites. These test sites are located in our states and are an integral part of determining the safest and most efficient way of opening our national airspace to UAS technology. The work being done at the test sites is critical for the industry to further develop and advance UAS technology, and for the operators and manufacturers of these state of the art systems to ensure they meet the safety and privacy standards necessary for wide-spread use. While the industry waits for the FAA to catch up and issue draft regulations, UAS operators can permissibly fly a UAS in federal air space by receiving a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to operate at a designated UAS Test Site, or by receiving a Section 333 exemption, like the one recently issued to the Hollywood film industry. We appreciate that the FAA has these two processes to allow the commercial exploration of UAS; however, it has come to our attention that both processes consist of long and frustrating delays. These delays force those manufacturers and operators who play by the rules to sit on the sidelines while they wait for approval while others chance fines and operate without any certification from the FAA, which raises serious concerns about public safety. Failure to improve the COA application process and prioritize COA applications to operate within designated UAS Test Sites raises concerns that the test sites will fail to materialize the way Congress intended and valuable research and testing will be stalled. We remain concerned that the FAA will miss their September 2015 deadline for its U.S. integration strategy, setting this industry back even further. We understand the difficulties faced by many federal agencies that lack the resources and staffing necessary to keep up with demand, but in this ever growing area, it is imperative that the FAA work closely with the industry to ensure that it is not creating a burdensome roadblock to innovation and defeating the intent of establishing UAS test sites. Given that this industry is still in its infancy and mindful of the challenge this regulatory process presents the FAA, we understand that there is a long way to go and appreciate that the FAA is proceeding with great care. To gain a better understanding of where the FAA currently is in this process, we ask that you provide us with, 1) an update on the FAAs timeline for releasing draft regulations for the commercial use of UAS; 2) a response to the concerns that the application process for COAs and Section 333 exemptions are lengthy and arduous; 3) your plan for handling future applications to ensure expediency going forward; and 4) what steps you will take to make it easier for the Test Sites to work with private industry on commercial applications for UAS and encourage the Test Sites full potential. This industry cannot continue to grow without further direction and guidance from the FAA on its planned regulations. We look forward to your response to our questions and to working with the FAA in the future as this exciting industry takes flight. Sincerely, ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |