ARTICLE · 09 MARCH 2016

Parity For Tribal Governments Operating Drones

Holland & Knight

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In 2012, unmanned aircraft systems legislation left tribal governments out of the definition of governments eligible to use UAS by means of Section 334 Certificates of Waiver or Authorization.

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector

Philip Baker-Shenk

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Philip Baker-Shenk is a Partner in Holland & Knight's Washington D.C. office

HIGHLIGHTS:

In 2012, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) legislation left tribal governments out of the definition of governments eligible to use UAS by means of Section 334 Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COAs).
As a matter of basic parity, tribal governments should have the same access that all other governments have to the latest tools and technology serving public safety purposes.
H.R. 4441, the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act of 2016 pending in the U.S. House of Representatives, contains a technical provision that would expressly include tribal governments among all governments treated as public safety agencies operating UAS "public aircraft" for purposes of Section 334 COAs.

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