Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act

Plan to study wildfire drone risks

If enacted, the Federal Aviation Administration would study how drones affect wildfire fighting on Interior and Agriculture lands. The study would review the last five calendar years. It would count when a drone flew into wildfire-restricted airspace and got in the way. For each event, it would estimate extra time to full control, any delays in launching firefighting aircraft, and federal costs. It would be done with the Interior Department and the Agriculture Department, including the Forest Service. It would also evaluate whether public education or approved counter-drone tools by authorized entities would help detect, stop, and prevent incursions. The FAA would report findings and recommendations to named House and Senate committees within 18 months. The bill would use existing federal definitions for “unmanned aircraft system” and “counter-UAS,” and would define an incursion as flying in airspace restricted due to a wildfire.