WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Steve Austria (OH-7) announced that he worked with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (FL-7) to secure language in the House version of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill that aims to help the Air Force in its effort to gain “restricted” airspace near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. This will allow the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Springfield National Guard to test Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), which would also open the door for industry development, training and commercial manufacturing. In securing this language, Austria creates the potential to bring hundreds of jobs and business development to Ohio. The FAA Reauthorization bill was passed out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today.

“This language is a win-win for the public and the private sector,” Congressman Austria said. “It allows our defense systems to continue to develop new technology that is essential to our national security, while also allowing private businesses to innovate and move our defense capabilities into the 21^st century.”

Specifically, the language directs the FAA Administrator to establish a program to integrate UASs into the national airspace system at four test sites. In determining these locations, the FAA must also consult with the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Secretary of the Air Force while considering the availability of the research radars essential for testing UASs and their impact.

While this language does not guarantee that Ohio will get one of these four test sites, it does ensure that Wright-Patterson and the Springfield National Guard – who already have these capabilities in place – will have a seat at the table. This designation would enable the Air Force to develop and test UASs within the same region, which would significantly decrease the taxpayer burden associated with transporting and relocating these radars and vehicles. This will also allow the Springfield National Guard to continue to utilize its tower operations.

Congressman Austria discussed this issue with Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force, and General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, this morning at an Air Force Caucus breakfast on Capitol Hill.

“Wright-Patterson has been at the forefront of UAS development, and is an ideal location for one of these pilot programs,” Austria said. “One of the biggest challenges has been trying to gain airspace from the FAA. This amendment will greatly ease this process, and I relayed that message to Secretary Donley and General Schwartz.”

Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced a similar amendment into the Senate version of the FAA reauthorization.  

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. Because of safety concerns, 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.

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