With the Trump Administration’s focus on jobs and building the economy, it makes perfect sense that it would explore opportunities in one of the fastest growing industries right now: drones.  In what may be the first direct outreach to the drone industry, President Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders of several drone companies to discuss the growing industry and the regulatory landscape. According to a White House spokesman, President Trump will see “demonstrations of how these technologies will contribute to the 21st century economy and how the government can ensure that their safe adoption leads to the best possible outcomes for the American worker and American businesses.”

U.S. based companies Kespry, AirMap, Airspace and PrecisionHawk are expected to be in attendance, among others. These companies focus on drone software for such things as mapping and analysis as well as drone security.

Also of note is that this meeting comes a day after the first meeting of the Remote Identification Aviation Rulemaking Committee of the Federal Aviation Administration, which is scheduled to meet on June 21, 2017. This Committee is tasked with creating new standards for remotely identifying and tracking drones. In addition to helping law enforcement with security concerns, remote identification could provide the starting point for an air traffic management system for drones.  This could then pave the way for expanded operation of drones, including beyond line of sight, among other expansions that could allow for things like drone delivery.

This increase in activity by the administration in the area of drone technology coupled with the recent announcement of privatization of air traffic control, helps foster the conclusion that expanded operation or additional waivers for commercial use could be coming faster than people anticipate.  This administration appears ready to address ways to help the industry grow.  We will follow up with any significant developments from these meetings.

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