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Michael Drobac, a senior advisor in McGuireWoods Consulting’s Washington, D.C., office and head of its emerging technologies team, was quoted in a July 6 Politico Pro Transportation story on how a stalemate over new rules governing model aircraft is affecting the commercial drone industry.
The story noted that the drone industry’s growth plans hinge on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) adopting a rule requiring drones — unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — to be identifiable and trackable. But Congress first must decide which devices would be subject to the rule, under a provision known as Section 336, which prohibits the FAA from regulating certain model aircraft.
Drobac, executive director of the Small UAV Coalition, told Politico that any bill moving through the Senate could be a vehicle for a legislative fix to Section 336.
“I don’t think we need FAA reauthorization to resolve this 336 issue,” Drobac said. “It takes courage by lawmakers and regulators to push for this — and I hope we see some.”