On Wednesday, the Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing titled, ​Taking Flight: Small Business Utilization of Unmanned Aircraft. The hearing will be held in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

The purpose of the hearing is to examine how small businesses will use unmanned aircraft for commercial activities in the United States. Currently, commercial operations of unmanned aircraft are very limited; however, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is working towards safely integrating them into the national airspace system.  Earlier this year, the FAA issued a proposed rule to permit small unmanned aircraft (those weighing 55 pounds or less) to operate for non-hobby, non-recreational purposes.  Once the regulation is finalized, the FAA expects that small businesses will conduct the majority of commercial operations. 
 

Opening Statement:

Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) 

Witnesses and Testimony:
 

Mr. Brian Wynne, President & CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, Arlington, VA

 

Mr. Mike Gilkey, CEO and Director of Flight Operations, 3D Aerial Solutions LLC, Dayton, OH

 

Mr. Brian Streem, CEO/Founder, AeroCine, Brooklyn, NY

 

Dr. Tim McLain, Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Director of the Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Additional Materials: 

Hearing Notice

Witness List