Senator Roy Blunt held a hearing Tuesday in Washington on how to safely integrate drones into the national airspace.
Blunt chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
He said in his opening statements that while the benefits of drone technology were fairly clear, the committee needed to better understand these rapidly developing technologies.
“We’re working to insure that we have balance that continues to encourage innovation, but public safety is at the forefront.”
The speakers included representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, the Helicopter Association International, and BNSF Railway Company.
Brian Wynne with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International included examples from around the nation of unmanned aircraft systems, often referred to as “UAS,” helping out local communities.
“For example, in Missouri, the Conway Volunteer Fire department recently used UAS to survey the scene of a traffic accident, and help guide their response.”