AURA statement: U.S. Senate Markup FAA Reauthorization

AURA Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer Brian Regan released the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s February 8 markup of the FAA Reauthorization bill: 

“AURA applauds the Senate Commerce Committee for passing the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. This bill reinforces the dedication to modernizing the National Airspace System (NAS), advancing aviation safety, and maintaining U.S. leadership in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). AURA particularly appreciates the Committee’s inclusion of a critical technical change during the markup.

“Third-party service providers, such as AURA, deliver safety-critical operational support for autonomous aircraft in controlled and uncontrolled airspace. Recognizing the broader scope of AAM operations, the Committee's small, but significant, language change will result in an approval process for all third-party services that are required for safe and successful UAS operations. This approach is paramount for the entire ecosystem of third-party service providers upon which AAM operators rely. By improving predictability for operators and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and by creating a clear path to approval for third-party service providers, this change enhances FAA efficiency and expedites progress within the AAM sector. We are grateful for the foresight shown by the Committee, as this bill represents a catalyst for the next generation of aviation.”

Also, see the AURA-led coalition’s correspondence to Senate Commerce Committee members regarding the language change here. The coalition includes AUVSI, Merlin Labs, Reliable Robotics, SkyGrid, and Wisk Aero.

Read more about third-party services in AURA’s white paper, “Enabling Communications for Advanced Air Mobility: Technologies, Services, and Policies.”