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AUVSI Attends NASAO 2023 Annual Convention and Tradeshow
Last week, AUVSI staff attended the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) 2023 Annual Convention and Tradeshow in Rogers, Arkansas.
NASAO is “dedicated to representing the interests of the states and the public before policymakers at the federal level,” and is the “only organization deeply invested in representing the public interest in all facets of aviation and airports.”
Why it matters: NASAO is an important trade association helping advance the interests of state aviation officials/agencies around the nation, who play a critical role in the timely and scaled integration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into the National Airspace System (NAS).
Our participation
AUVSI had the opportunity to engage with several officials and industry leaders working on and advancing uncrewed systems issues in the states and federally. There were several key officials from state Departments of Transportation around the nation in attendance, and specifically officials who handle aviation/aeronautics programs in their states.
We were also able to showcase some of the work we are doing at the federal level to further scale the industry, as well as the critically important state lobbying efforts we have undertaken. Many attendees were familiar with AUVSI and our robust Chapter network around the nation.
Discussions centered around Drone Prepared, federal preemption, federal initiatives/dollars that support state UAS and AAM work (such as the Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant Act), BVLOS rulemaking, the powered-lift Special Federal Aviation Regulation, and more.
FAA Reauthorization
Senior Manager of Government Affairs, Max Rosen, participated on a panel that dug into the current status of the FAA Reauthorization. Other panelists included officials from two State Departments of Transportation, as well as staff from NASAO and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
Max’s remarks covered:
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Highlights of the legislation pertaining to the uncrewed systems space,
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The process of the bill becoming law,
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Current disagreements on Capitol Hill that are delaying timely enactment of the legislation, and
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Ways that state officials and other stakeholders can become more involved in the Congressional process and make their voices heard.
Other panelists highlighted:
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Critical provisions in the FAA related to general aviation generally,
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Aviation fuel,
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Non-Primary Entitlement (NPE) funds,
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Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds, and
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The crucial role the federal government/federal dollars play in ensuring the continued vitality of both general aviation and larger, commercial airports around the nation.
Finally, Max highlighted the deliberative and transparent process AUVSI as an organization underwent to solicit FAA Reauthorization priorities from both UAS and AAM members, and how those priorities were transformed into concrete legislative proposals that were shared widely on Capitol Hill and within the Executive Branch.
The comments were well received and Max left with the audience key information on how the UAS and AAM provisions in the legislation, once enacted into law, will affect the nation and the NAS for users, regulators, and legislators at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels.
