U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, with a directive from President Donald Trump, recently launched the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program to test drones in partnership with local and state governments.
The program will examine the economic benefits of UAS and reduce the risk drones pose to public safety and security.
Data from the program will be used to safely integrate UAS into national airspace by creating regulations, improving communication and balancing local and national interests.
The Department of Transportation will soon begin accepting applications from local governments. Each government must partner with the private sector.
“This program supports the President’s commitment to foster technological innovation that will be a catalyst for ideas that have the potential to change our day-to-day lives,” Chao said. “Drones are proving to be especially valuable in emergency situations, including assessing damage from natural disasters such as the recent hurricanes and the wildfires in California.”
In the first three years after integration, approximately 70,000 jobs will be created with an economic impact of more than $13.6 billion, according to a report by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. By 2025, it will increase to 100,000 jobs and an economic impact of $82 billion.