Sec. 2122. Utilization of unmanned aircraft system test sites
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Chapter 448, as designated by section 2121 of this Act, is amended by inserting after section 44801 the following: The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish and update, as appropriate, a program for the use of the 6 test sites established under section 332(c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) to facilitate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system. The program shall terminate on September 30, 2017.
In establishing the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— designate airspace for safely testing the integration of unmanned flight operations in the national airspace system; develop operational standards and air traffic requirements for unmanned flight operations at test sites, including test ranges; coordinate with and leverage the resources of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Defense; address both civil and public unmanned aircraft systems; ensure that the program is coordinated with relevant aspects of the Next Generation Air Transportation System; provide for verification of the safety of unmanned aircraft systems and related navigation procedures as it relates to continued development of standards for integration into the national airspace system; engage each test site operator in projects for research, development, testing, and evaluation of unmanned aircraft systems to facilitate the Federal Aviation Administration’s development of standards for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system, which may include solutions for— developing and enforcing geographic and altitude limitations; classifications of airspace where manufacturers must prevent flight of an unmanned aircraft system; classifications of airspace where manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems must alert the operator to hazards or limitations on flight; sense and avoid capabilities; and beyond-line-of-sight, nighttime operations and unmanned traffic management, or other critical research priorities; coordinate periodically with all test site operators to ensure test site operators know which data should be collected, what procedures should be followed, and what research would advance efforts to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system; allow a test site to develop multiple test ranges within the test site; streamline the approval process for test sites when processing unmanned aircraft certificates of waiver or authorization for operations at the test sites; require each test site operator to protect proprietary technology, sensitive data, or sensitive research of any civil or private entity when using that test site without the need to obtain an experimental or special airworthiness certificate; evaluate options for the operation of 1 or more small unmanned aircraft systems beyond the visual line of sight of the operator for testing under controlled conditions that assure the safety of persons and property, including on the ground; and allow test site operators to receive Federal funding, other than from the Federal Aviation Administration, including in-kind contributions, from test site participants in the furtherance of research, development, and testing objectives.
In determining the location of a test site under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— take into consideration geographic and climatic diversity; take into consideration the location of ground infrastructure and research needs; and consult with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Secretary of Defense. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 , the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the establishment and implementation of the program under subsection (a).
Beginning 180 days after the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 , and every 180 days thereafter until September 30, 2017, the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a briefing that includes— a current summary of unmanned aircraft systems operations at the test sites since the last briefing to Congress; a description of all of the data generated from the operations described in subparagraph (A), and shared with the Federal Aviation Administration through a cooperative research and development agreement authorized in section 2123 of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 , that relate to unmanned aircraft systems research priorities, including beyond-line-of-sight, unmanned traffic management, nighttime operations, and sense and avoid technology; a description of how the data described in subparagraph
(B)will be or is used— to advance Federal Aviation Administration priorities; to validate the safety of unmanned aircraft systems and related technology; and to inform future rulemaking related to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace; an evaluation of the activities and specific outcomes from activities at the test sites that support the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems under this chapter; and recommendations for future Federal Aviation Administration test site operations that would generate data necessary to inform future rulemaking related to unmanned aircraft systems. The operator of each test site under subsection
(a)shall— review the operations of unmanned aircraft systems conducted at the test site, including— ongoing or completed research; and data regarding operations by private and public operators; and submit to the Administrator, in such form and manner as specified by the Administrator, the results of the review, including recommendations to further enable private research and development operations at the test sites that contribute to the Federal Aviation Administration’s safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system, on a quarterly basis until the program terminates. The Secretary may authorize an operator of a test site described in subsection
(a)to administer testing requirements established by the Administrator for unmanned aircraft systems operations. . The table of contents for chapter 448, as added by section 2121 of this Act, is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 44801 the following: 44802. Unmanned aircraft system test sites. . Section 332 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 40101 note) is amended by striking subsection (c).
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Sec. 2122
Utilization of unmanned aircraft system test sites
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