US: The Drone Federalism Act of 2017 has been introduced into the U.S. Senate, which seeks to “establish a process for federal, state, local and tribal governments to work together to manage the use of recreational and commercial drones.” This bill would allow “communities to create low-altitude speed limits, local no-drone zones or rules that are appropriate to their own circumstances.
The bill modifies Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to require those model aircraft to have the permission of the land owner if they are within 200ft above ground level or 200ft above the structure, whichever is higher.
“This legislation protects the rights of state and local governments to implement reasonable restrictions on drones in their communities while ensuring that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) keeps our national airspace the safest in the world,” says the Act.
The bill also reaffirms that the federal government “will respect private property rights to the airspace immediately above a property, including the first 200 feet.” It will also directs the FAA to work with a diverse group of cities and states to test different approaches, inform the unmanned traffic management pilot program and report best practices.
