Decentralizing Drone Regulations in Low-Altitude Airspace
Julie Bateman States have long held authority over low-altitude airspace. Nonetheless, with the rise of commercial drones over the past decade, the FAA has extended its near exclusive authority over aircraft in navigable airspace, generally airspace above 500 feet, to low-altitude airspace. Several members of Congress have proposed affirming the state’s authority over low- altitude airspace, most recently Senator Mike Lee with the Drone Integration and Zoning Act of 2019. Under the FAA’s regime, dominant players have secured valuable authorizations for beyond visual line of sight operations and package delivery services, yet small businesses have struggled to obtain authorization for...