Recreational Drone Empowerment Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Ohio for yielding me the time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 6460, the Recreational Drone Empowerment Act, which clarifies the ability of the FAA to authorize model aircraft operations in class E airspace.

Everyone gets their start somewhere. For many folks, a lifelong passion for flight is ignited the first time they get the experience of what model aeronautics has to offer. For some, that passion leads them to ultimately pursue long and successful careers in the aviation workforce.

We must do whatever we can to foster a robust recreational operational environment where individuals of all ages can experience all that aviation has to offer.

In 2018, Congress classified model aircraft as recreational UASes. That legislation spelled out what classes of airspace and under what conditions recreational UASes could fly. For 7 years and on behalf of its 2,400 member clubs, of which 30 reside in the great State of Kansas, the Academy of Model Aeronautics has been collaborating with the FAA to attract the next generation of aviation professionals.

Unfortunately, due to a misinterpretation of a provision of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, many recreational clubs across the country found they were no longer able to legally fly in some sectors of class E airspace.

The Recreational Drone Empowerment Act allows model aircraft clubs to request permission from the FAA to operate in class E2, E3, E4, and E5 airspace, as it does for all other classifications of airspace. This legislation does not require the FAA to grant such requests. It merely grants them the legal authority to approve such requests.

I thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for their support of my legislation that would give regulatory certainty to an important part of the aviation community and continues to encourage the next generation of aviators.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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