Senator Cory Booker Is The Author Of A Bill To Expand Commercial Use Of UAVs

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), has authored a bill that would allow companies much greater latitude for flying UAVs for such purposes as crop management and construction site surveys.

Forbes reports that it received a copy of an early draft of the "Commercial UAV Modernization Act" that would put temporary provisions in place for companies to use their unmanned aircraft for specific purposes. The bill would require the operator to pass a knowledge test, and would limit flights to 500 feet of altitude under day VFR conditions.

The bill follows a waiver granted by the FAA to Amazon to conduct limited tests of its proposed package delivery service.

Forbes reports that Booker's bill is separate from new rules that the FAA was expected to introduce at a congressional subcommittee hearing Tuesday. An FAA spokesman told Forbes that it was unaware of Booker's proposal, and so would have no comment.

Booker's bill also calls for a new "Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft" that would report to the Administrator and the Secretary of Transportation.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.booker.senate.gov