North Carolina General Assembly Building Jayron32 of English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Legislative Changes Reflect Evolving Landscape of Drone Operations
In a significant legislative shift, the North Carolina General Assembly has passed House Bill 198, effectively removing the requirement for a state uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) operator knowledge test and permit. This decision follows sustained advocacy by AeroX and its members, who have played a crucial role in informing lawmakers about the advantages of drones and encouraging a supportive business climate for advanced drone operations in the state.
The UAS knowledge test and operator permit requirements were initially introduced in 2014 under Session Law 2014-100. These regulations mandated that both state/local government and commercial drone operators pass the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) UAS Operator Knowledge Test and obtain the NCDOT UAS permit, which had to be renewed biennially.
Basil Yap, President of AeroX, recounted the early legislative discussions. “There were significant concerns about the security and privacy of drone usage and a belief that the FAA was not moving quickly enough to capitalize on business opportunities,” Yap said. “One legislator even suggested that if the FAA wasn’t going to create a drone pilot license, the state would help push them along by passing our own.” At the time, the FAA did not issue drone operator licenses, a gap filled in 2016 with the introduction of the Small UAS Rule (Part 107) and the Remote Pilot Certificate.
Yap, who served as UAS Program Manager at NCDOT from 2016 to 2020, oversaw the establishment of the online knowledge test and permitting process. During his tenure, he also led North Carolina’s involvement in the FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program. Yap noted that drone operators often questioned why North Carolina required a UAS permit, seeing it as redundant alongside the FAA’s Remote Pilot Certificate.
Since its inception in 2021, AeroX has engaged regularly with the General Assembly to support the drone industry. AeroX’s initiatives included hosting a UAS Legislative Day in 2023 and the state legislature’s UAS Caucus in 2024, offering legislators firsthand insights into drone operations and facilitating discussions with industry stakeholders.
House Bill 198, titled DOT Legislative Changes, was introduced in February 2023 and reached the Governor’s desk in May 2024. Although initially vetoed by Governor Roy Cooper due to issues unrelated to UAS regulations, the House and Senate overrode the veto, enacting the bill into law on June 27, 2024. The repeal of Article 10 of Chapter 63 of the state’s General Statutes, which encompasses the UAS knowledge test and permit requirements, will take effect on December 1, 2024.
AeroX continues to champion North Carolina’s position as a leader in UAS innovation. By fostering an environment conducive to the growth of UAS technologies, AeroX aims to create a model ecosystem for advanced air mobility and serve as a testbed for pioneering companies.
For more information about AeroX, visit www.ncaerox.com.
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