Executive Orders Aim to Accelerate US Drone Sector and Increase Security

President Donald Trump on Friday signed executive orders to bolster U.S. defenses against threatening drones and to boost domestic production.

In two executive orders, Trump sought to enable routine use of drones beyond the visual sight of operators - a key step to enabling commercial drone deliveries - and reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese drone companies as well as advance testing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Unleashing American Drone Dominance

The first Executive Order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance,” lays out a comprehensive agenda to expand the United States’ leadership in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) :

Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people.

It is the policy of the United States to ensure continued American leadership in the development, commercialization, and export of UAS by:

(a) accelerating the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System through timely, risk-based rulemaking that enables routine advanced operations;

(b) advancing the domestic commercialization of UAS technologies at scale, including their safe and secure manufacturing, production, and integration, by supporting industry-led innovation, reducing regulatory uncertainty, and streamlining approvals and certification processes, including for consumer goods delivery and environmental reviews; and

(c) strengthening the domestic drone industrial base and promoting the export of trusted, American-manufactured UAS through updated economic policies and regulation, coordinated trade, financing, and foreign engagement tools.

Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty

The second Executive Order, “Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty,” focuses on safeguarding the nation’s airspace from evolving drone-related threats

It is the policy of the United States to ensure control over our national airspace and to protect the public, critical infrastructure, mass gathering events, and military and sensitive government installations and operations from threats posed by the careless or unlawful use of UAS.

The official White House fact sheets can be accessed here:

Unleashing American Drone Dominance

Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty

Source: THE WHITE HOUSE