title: Commercial UAS Modernization Act
text: # Commercial UAS Modernization Act
  
  * This article is part of a series about Ron Wyden
  
  Political positions
  
  U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd
  
  Representative career
  
  Healthcare Quality Improvement Act
  
  National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act
  
  U.S. Senator from Oregon
  
  Internet Tax Freedom Act
  
  Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act
  
  Wyden-Bennett Act
  
  Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act
  
  Data Cap Integrity Act
  
  Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010
  
  Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act
  
  OPEN Act
  
  S. 256
  
  Omnibus Territories Act of 2013
  
  Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act
  
  Cider Act
  
  Commercial UAS Modernization Act
  
  Hemp Farming Act of 2018 :
  
  vte :
  
  The Commercial UAS Modernization Act (S. 1314) is a bill introduced in the 114th Congress by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Hoeven (R-ND) that would create temporary guidelines for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or UAVs) and regulations for the commercial drone industry. Most commercial use of drones in the U.S. is currently banned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
  
  As of December 15, 2015, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
  
  ## Background
  
  The FAA runs six drone test sites in the U.S. In May 2015, the FAA released a program called the Pathfinder Program, which would expand drone testing by allowing certain companies the right to experiment using drones out of the line of sight of the operator. CNN, BNSF Railway and PrecisionHawk, a drone startup company, were included in the initial approval for the program. The FAA plans to analyze the data collected from the experiments as part of a fact-finding process.
  
  In February 2015, the FAA released a set of draft regulations that would allow drone operators to fly commercial UAVs during daylight, under 500 feet in the air, and within the line of sight of the operator.
  
  ## Legislative details
  
  S. 1314 would create an interim FAA rule that would allow for commercial use and testing of small drones. The bill’s provisions would apply until the FAA finalizes its own drone regulations.
  
  If passed into law, the bill would allow people to operate small drones without needing an airworthiness certificate from the FAA if they met the following conditions:
  
  * The operator submits proof of liability insurance to the FAA
  * The operator passes tests on aeronautics and drone usage proficiency
  * The operator demonstrates his or her ability to fly the drone within certain restrictions (time of day, visibility, air traffic control, operator health, preflight inspection, and airspace).
  
  Additionally, the bill would create a new position within the FAA titled the Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft. The FAA would establish a research and development data collection and analysis program at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, an FAA facility located near Atlantic City, New Jersey.
  
  ## Support
  
  Groups and companies that have publicly expressed support for the legislation include:
  
  * Amazon
  * Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
  * DJI (a drone manufacturer)
  * Google
  * Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
  * National Association of Broadcasters
  * Small UAV Coalition
  
  Senator Booker has said that the drone industry expects that finalization of the FAA drone regulations will create over 100,000 jobs in the United States and have an economic impact of $82 billion.
  
  