Austria-Secured UAS Language Included in FY12 Appropriations "Mini-Bus"

Press Release

Tomorrow the U.S House of Representatives will vote on the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2012 Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, and Science; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development mini-bus. Included in the report is language Congressman Steve Austria (OH-Beavercreek) authored regarding Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) airspace, which was also included in the September version of the House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2012 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development report.

"UAS airspace continues to be a tremendous priority for the Miami Valley region," Congressman Austria said. "If long-term airspace is granted near WPAFB, it could bring hundreds -- possibly thousands -- of innovative and good-paying jobs to our state. The Dayton region is a national leader in UAS research and development, and given the opportunity to compete for dedicated airspace, the region will also be well-positioned to attract UAS manufacturers and businesses to Ohio."

"The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle industry is expected to generate billions of dollars and create tens of thousands of jobs in the next decade and the Dayton region is poised to capture some of that growth," said Jeff Hoagland, President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition. "Working with the FAA to meet the needs of the Defense Department for flying unmanned systems plays to the region's strength in aerospace research to help land some of this future business."

Securing this language in the mini-bus conference report is yet another step forward towards giving the Dayton region an opportunity to compete for special use airspace for UASs. Specifically, this language requires that within 60 days of the bill passing, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the agency's progress in establishing this airspace for defense research needs. As a result, the language ensures that the FAA must continue to prioritize the establishment of UAS airspace while Congress works to pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. Congressman Austria also secured language in the long-term FAA reauthorization which creates test sites for integrating UAS into the National Airspace.

The mini-bus language and FAA reauthorization language will together ensure that WPAFB and the Springfield National Guard have a seat at the table when discussing locations for opening long-term, restricted airspace for defense testing.

UASs are Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) plus the ground control system and supporting data links. A UAV is a controlled, reusable aircraft that flies without a human crew on board. Currently, UAVs can only be flow in special regions designated by the FAA where the vehicles will not fly near commercial and general aircraft, or large population centers.

A copy of the language included in the FY2012 minibus is below:

"Special use airspace for unmanned aerial systems (UAS)-- The Conferees direct FAA to provide a progress report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, no later than 60 days after enactment, which describes and assesses the establishment of special use airspace to fill defense research needs related to UASs, particularly in the development of detection techniques for small unmanned aerial vehicles."

Source