U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Introduces Legislation To Stop Drones From Being Flown Near JFK and Major U.S. Airports

Statement

Congressman Gregory Meeks introduced legislation to reduce the number of drones flying around America's passenger airports. The bill, H.R. 798, entitled the Responsible Skies Act, is a response to the danger posed by recreational use of drones along the flight paths of passenger planes:

"The Responsible Skies Act places restrictions on the use of drones (small unmanned aircraft) within 5 miles of an airport's perimeter. These restrictions explicitly prohibit the use of drones above 400 feet and within visual sight of an airport's perimeter. This bill would also require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to report to Congress on the number of drone sightings near commercial airports.

"America is where the airplane was born. And the century since its creation, the airplane has continued to transform the imagination of America and the world. The miniaturization of aircraft and our fascination with flying must be accompanied by sensible laws that recognize the dangers associated with flight.

"Flights traveling to and from airports like JFK must be safe from potentially hazardous, unlicensed aircraft. Recently, there were several done sightings near our nation's most traveled airports. Airplane passengers and residents living in the communities surrounding our airports are at increasingly greater risk. The Responsible Skies Act places the safety of our communities above all others in a responsible and practical manner."

Source