Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Steve Austria (R–Beavercreek) announced that the FAA Reauthorization language, which included Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) test sites, was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  Congressman Austria voted in favor of the NDAA, which was passed on the House floor tonight.

Earlier this year, Congressman Austria secured language in the FAA reauthorization (H.R. 658) to create new UAS test sites. The negotiated language would allow the Miami Valley region to compete for much needed airspace to test fly Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).  Congressman Austria joined Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to ensure that similar language from the FAA reauthorization remained in the final compromise.

“I was pleased to see the language we worked on in the FAA reauthorization was also included in the NDAA. UAS airspace continues to be a priority for the Miami Valley with the Dayton area being a national leader in UAS research and development,” Congressman Austria commented.  “Given the opportunity to compete for dedicated airspace, the region will also be well-positioned to attract UAS manufacturers to Ohio and better compete for businesses that could potentially produce hundreds or even thousands of new jobs in our area.”

“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.”

The Wright Patterson Air Force Base area and the Springfield National Guard Base have been working with the FAA to obtain airspace to test fly UAVs used by the Department of Defense and Homeland Security. Late last week, Congressman Steve Austria (R–Beavercreek) spoke with Michael Huerta, Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to discuss the unique research, development, testing, and training being conducted in the Miami Valley on UAS.  Austria extended an invitation for Huerta to visit Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and other facilities to see firsthand the work being done in UAS technology throughout the Dayton region.

“I appreciated Administrator Huerta's willingness to work with my office, as the FAA moves towards a national policy to integrate UAS into national aerospace.  These new pilot programs will create new UAS airspace for five years, bringing more certainty for investors and businesses to our region," said Congressman Austria.

Acting Administrator Huerta accepted this invitation and Congressman Austria looks forward to announcing specific details at a later date. They also discussed the urgent need for more permanent airspace to test these vehicles and the process in which the FAA will use to select these new test sites.

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