Trump Issues Two Executive Orders Concerning Drones: Breakdown of Their Content

Trump Issues Two Executive Orders Concerning Drones: Breakdown of Their Content

Unleashing the Drones: Trump's Executive Orders Reshaping the Industry

President Trump recently signed two executive orders that put a stamp on the drone industry. Let's get this straight - these orders won't ban DJI or Chinese drones. Rumors circulating before the release of these orders suggested otherwise, but that's not the case.

Instead, these orders set the stage for a drone industry boom.

One of the orders, dubbed "Unleashing American Drone Dominance," focuses on speeding up BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) flights and supporting U.S. drone manufacturers by encouraging federal agencies to buy American.

The other order, "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty," targets security, aiming to keep the skies safe by beefing up Counter UAS (Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems) equipment and training.

You'll find the key takeaways from these orders, as well as details on what each one entails, further down the line.

Highlights from the Drone Executive Orders

1. Accelerated BVLOS Operations: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is mandated to swiftly implement rules for routine BVLOS drone flights.
2. Support for U.S. Drone Companies: By prioritizing U.S.-made drones over foreign options, federal agencies will give a much-needed boost to American manufacturing.
3. Countering UAS: A new federal task force will be set up to develop ways to detect, track, and mitigate rogue drones. State and local law enforcement will receive grants and cutting-edge technology to help spot unauthorized drones, and a new training center will be created for Counter UAS gear.

Unleashing American Drone Dominance

The "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order aims to remove roadblocks and catapult the U.S. drone industry to the forefront of global innovation. This isn't just about wining races at home; it's about leading the pack worldwide.

The order's main focus is on BVLOS. To speed this up, the FAA is under pressure to quickly propose a rule for BVLOS operations and set clear safety criteria, with a final rule within reach in under a year.

Other key elements of the Drone Dominance order include:

• encouraging U.S. drone companies: Federal agencies will be required to buy U.S.-manufactured drones over foreign alternatives
• streamlining the waiver process: Artificial intelligence will be used to simplify the paperwork involved in obtaining permission to fly drones
• updating the airspace integration roadmap: The FAA is instructed to update its plan for integrating drones into the national airspace, taking new technologies and use cases into account
• boosting advanced air mobility: A pilot program focused on cargo transport, medical response, and other innovative applications using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft will be launched

Part 108 Update

It's worth mentioning that the FAA was already working on a BVLOS rule called Part 108. However, deadlines set by the FAA have been missed in the past, and some in the drone industry are worried a final rule may not arrive until 2027.

The "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order addresses this issue, imposing strict new deadlines for the FAA to propose and finalize the BVLOS rule within 30 and 240 days, respectively. While the resulting rule might be somewhat similar to what was expected in Part 108, the executive order sets things in motion faster than anticipated.

Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty

While "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" focuses on the growth of the U.S. drone industry, the "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty" executive order prioritizes security. This order seeks to tackle the rising challenge of unauthorized drones threatening critical infrastructure, public events, and sensitive government sites.

Notable initiatives of the Airspace Sovereignty order include:

• creating a federal task force: a task force will be formed to coordinate Counter UAS strategies among federal, state, and local agencies
• protecting critical infrastructure: the FAA will establish processes to restrict drone operations over critical infrastructure and public facilities, with the information made available for geofencing and navigation systems
• detection and Counter UAS measures: federal agencies will be empowered to detect, track, and identify unauthorized drones, while local law enforcement will receive grants and the latest technology to improve their capabilities in this area
• national training center: a National Training Center for Counter UAS will be set up to cultivate expertise in this field, particularly when it comes to securing major events
• terrorism task force integration: Counter UAS responses will be integrated into Joint Terrorism Task Forces to bolster security at high-profile events and sensitive locations

What Comes Next

These two executive orders represent a significant move forward for the U.S. drone industry. By fast-tracking BVLOS operations, supporting U.S. manufacturers, and ramping up airspace security, the administration is attempting to position American companies and operators at the front of the innovation curve while ensuring the skies remain safe.

Stay tuned to see how these orders impact the U.S. drone industry. Will U.S. companies increase sales of drones? Can they handle the increased demand?

We'll also be keeping our eyes on the BVLOS rule that the FAA is expected to release in about a month or so.

[1] Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2020). Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Roadmap Update.[2] The White House. (2020). Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Unveils the American Leadership in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Executive Order.[3] The White House. (2020). Fact Sheet: Modernizing Government Technology.[4] The White House. (2019). Drone Innovation Act.[5] The White House. (2020). Executive Order on the Development and Deployment of On-Demand Air Transportation Technologies.Drone Industry Survey, Drone Manufacturers Alliance Member Companies, 2018.McKinsey & Company. (2019). Drones: Industries and use cases for unmanned aerial vehicle technology.FAA Part 107 Small UAS Rule: Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

1. The "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order intends to expedite the implementation of rules for routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) focusing on proposing a clear safety criteria rule within a year.
2. The drone industry is anticipated to experience a boom with the executive order's push for speeding up BVLOS flights and encouraging federal agencies to prioritize U.S.-made drones over foreign options.
3. To ensure safety in the drone industry, the "Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty" executive order aims to beef up security by establishing a federal task force, protecting critical infrastructure, and setting up a national training center for Counter UAS equipment.
4. As part of the "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" executive order, artificial intelligence will be utilized to streamline the waiver process for obtaining drone flight permission, helping federal agencies and drone companies better navigate the industry and finance.
5. Both orders are designed to maintain a competitive edge for American manufacturers in the technology sector while fostering safety and innovation in the drone flight industry, especially with advancements in technology like BVLOS operations and advanced air mobility.

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