Bill Text: NJ AR78 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges FAA to expand restrictions on flights of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [AR78 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR78-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Urges FAA to expand restrictions on flights of unmanned aerial vehicles.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate rules and regulations expanding prohibitions of unmanned aerial vehicle flights over populated areas.
Whereas, Pursuant to the "FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012," Pub. L. 112-95, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for regulating unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones; and
Whereas, Pursuant to this act, the FAA is charged with determining whether certain unmanned aerial vehicles may operate safely in the national airspace system and, if it is determined that safe operation is possible, the FAA is required to establish requirements for the safe operation of such vehicles in the national airspace system; and
Whereas, The FAA has restricted the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles over certain populated areas such as aerial demonstrations and major sporting events; and
Whereas, Current FAA restrictions do not adequately regulate flights of unmanned aerial vehicles and, therefore, do not sufficiently protect against potential risk of harm caused by these vehicles; and
Whereas, Flight of unmanned aerial vehicles is currently restricted over stadiums during Major League Baseball, National Football League, and NCAA football games, and motor speedway events; and
Whereas, Unmanned aerial vehicles have been reported over parades and have crashed into the stands of stadiums at sporting events where flight is not currently restricted by the FAA; and
Whereas, The FAA recently reported a drastic increase in pilot sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles from a total of 238 in 2014 to more than 650 sightings as of August 2015; and
Whereas, During a nine-month period, from March through November of 2014, approximately 25 incidents were reported where an unmanned aerial vehicle nearly collided with a manned aircraft in midair, sometimes requiring evasive action; and
Whereas, If not properly regulated by the FAA, future incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles could put hundreds of airplane passengers, spectators, and other citizens in serious danger; and
Whereas, Promulgation by the FAA of regulations which expand restrictions to strictly prohibit the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles over all sporting events, parades, and other sensitive locations is imperative in order to prevent serious future and foreseeable harm; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to promulgate rules which prohibit flight of unmanned aerial vehicles over all sporting events, parades, and other sensitive locations.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed by the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to promulgate rules and regulations to further restrict the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones, over certain populated areas.
Pursuant to the "FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012," Pub. L. 112-95, the FAA is responsible for regulating unmanned aerial vehicles. Under the Act, the FAA is charged with determining whether certain unmanned aerial vehicles may operate safely in the national airspace system and, if it is determined that safe operation is possible, the FAA is required to establish requirements for the safe operation of such vehicles.
The FAA has restricted the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles over certain populated areas such as aerial demonstrations and major sporting events. While flight of these vehicles is currently prohibited over stadiums during Major League Baseball, National Football League and NCAA football games, and motor speedway events, current restrictions do not adequately regulate the flight of these unmanned vehicles and, therefore, do not sufficiently protect against the potential risk of harm they may cause. Unmanned aerial vehicles have been reported over parades, and have crashed into the stands of stadiums at sporting events, including a US Open tennis match, where flight is not currently restricted by the FAA.
The FAA recently reported a drastic increase in pilot sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles from a total of 238 in 2014 to more than 650 sightings as of August 2015. In addition, during a nine-month period, from March through November of 2014, approximately 25 incidents were reported where an unmanned aerial vehicles nearly collided with a manned aircraft in midair, sometimes requiring evasive action.
If not properly regulated by the FAA, future incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles could put hundreds of airplane passengers, spectators, and other citizens in serious danger. Promulgation by the FAA of regulations which would expand restrictions to strictly prohibit the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles over all sporting events, parades, and other sensitive locations is imperative in order to prevent serious future and foreseeable harm.
