North Indy News

As President Donald Trump aims to regain American leadership in unmanned aerial systems, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a Senate Commerce Committee member, has addressed a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought. The letter urges quick action on the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule, deemed essential for providing regulatory certainty needed to safely scale drone operations across the National Airspace System.

“Our nation’s strength has always been fueled by our ability to innovate and outcompete our adversaries, but over years of government stagnation, our domestic drone industry has suffered,” said Senator Young. “The economic and national security threat posed by drones produced by our adversaries is grave, and the only way to counter it is to remove unnecessary and prohibitive regulations, and empower our American companies to conduct domestic research, testing, manufacturing, and deployment.”

Young expressed confidence that through this executive order (EO), America can reclaim its leadership in unmanned aerial systems. He noted Indiana's readiness to support research, testing of new drone technology, mass manufacturing, and fielding necessary for market introduction.

President Trump’s executive order titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” aims to accelerate the integration of American-made drones and emerging technologies like electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft. It calls for timely regulatory action on BVLOS, enhanced utilization of FAA test ranges, strengthening the domestic drone industrial base, and a robust export strategy. The order also includes initiatives aimed at equipping U.S. warfighters with cutting-edge capabilities while reducing reliance on foreign-manufactured systems.

The full text of Young’s letter highlights the need for timely implementation of the BVLOS rule within 30 days as outlined in President Trump's EO.