49 USC 44806 - Public unmanned aircraft systems and public safety use of tethered unmanned aircraft systems

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in subsecs. (a) and (span) of this section were contained in section 334(a) and (c) of Puspan. L. 112–95, which was set out in a note under section 40101 of this title, prior to repeal by Puspan. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 346(span)(2), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3295. The remainder of the note comprised of subtitle B of title III of Puspan. L. 112–95 was transferred and is set out under section 44802 of this title.

Amendments

2024—Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(1), inserted “and public safety use of tethered unmanned aircraft systems” after “systems” in section catchline.

Subsec. (c). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(A), inserted “Safety Use of” after “Public” in heading. Text quoted in directory language of amendment was editorially conformed to the style of the heading.

Subsec. (c)(1). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(i), in introductory provisions, substituted “The” for “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the”, “permit” for “permit the use of”, struck out “public” before “actively tethered”, and inserted “by a public safety organization for such systems” after “unmanned aircraft systems”.

Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(ii), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “operated at an altitude of less than 150 feet above ground level;”.

Subsec. (c)(1)(B) to (E). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(iii), (iv), redesignated subpars. (C) to (E) as (B) to (D), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “operated—

“(i) within class G airspace; or

“(ii) at or below the ceiling depicted on the Federal Aviation Administration’s published UAS facility maps for class B, C, D, or E surface area airspace;”.

Subsec. (c)(3). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(C), substituted “Actively” for “Public actively”.

Subsec. (e). Puspan. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(3), added subsec. (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Public UAS Access to Special Use Airspace

Puspan. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 368, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3310, provided that:

“Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2018], the Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance for the expedited and timely access to special use airspace for public unmanned aircraft systems in order to assist Federal, State, local, or tribal law enforcement organizations in conducting law enforcement, emergency response, or for other activities.”