Inside Unmanned Systems provides actionable business intelligence to decision-makers and influencers operating within the global UAS community. Features include analysis of key technologies, policy/regulatory developments and new product design.
Issue link: https://insideunmanned.epubxp.com/i/720234
Q+A 58 unmanned systems inside August/September 2016 ugust/Septe August/September 2016 August/September 2016 be August/September 2016 0 August/September 2016 6 August/September 2016 Q G F Q: How can a drone fi rm benefi t from being part of an ASA chapter? a: (State governments) can sponsor conferences and roundtables to get information out. They can facilitate attractive tax structures and leverage venture capital. There is a wide range of things the states can do and, especially at a time when the federal government does not have the funding to support a lot of growth in certain industries, states step up. States are where UAS are used. So that connection is vitally important for UAS operators. One of the easiest and maybe most important (benefits) is a personal relationship with elected officials. …By joining the chapter, they can personally meet the lieutenant governor and perhaps the governor and other state legislators and so CHARLES HUETTNER IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Aerospace States Association. ASA recently partnered with AUVSI to advance unmanned aviation by helping connect fi rms with state resources and educate state lawmakers and offi cials. Q: How will the Aerospace States Association (ASA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) work together to support the unmanned aircraft sector? a: One of our major objectives is to educate lieutenant governors, governors and state legislators on important issues from the aerospace sector. ASA's formed chapters now in 10 or 12 states that we're trying to grow to every state and territory. …By AUVSI joining in with our chapters—to educate state legislators on the issues—it will give them (chapter members) a direct link to state officials. forth. …Here's an opportunity to not only vent your frustration but be able to actually do something about it. Q: Do you see ASA taking a role in promoting entrepreneurs? a: Last October ASA partnered with the Department of Commerce to host a foreign direct investment exposition in Los Angeles, where the Department of Commerce brought almost 100 investors from around the world. …We brought 35 states and had booths and educational programs on how to invest in the U.S. and how companies can connect with investors. There was a matchmaking forum with something like 248 matches between companies and investors accomplished during the three-day event. Q: Has your approach to privacy changed since ASA started working on that issue? a: Not really. We've put out our material (six privacy-related considerations ASA developed as a reference for states weighing UAS legislation). I will say one thing. I was with the aerospace designee for Maryland today at lunchtime and he mentioned the fact that they had passed a bill that, I'll say, limits local governments from regulating UAS. That's something we really hadn't thought about initially. ...You don't want one town saying 'you can do this and you can't go here' and then another town saying 'Well, yeah, you can't come here and not go there.' Q: Is ASA able to bring the states together in regional cooperation on different issues or infrastructure? a: Actually we're just in the middle of a discussion with the state of Illinois, which is interested in bringing a regional approach to some aerospace issues. So certainly, our objective is to help states grow and support aerospace activities. As you well know aviation certainly doesn't stop at state lines and neither do space activities. Five Good Questions CHARLES HUETTNER