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Google, Amazon Join Not-As-Cool-As-It-Sounds Drone Task Force

The Federal Aviation Administration is getting proactive on drones, as the popularity of the unmanned aircraft systems (both personal and commercial) is only going to increase. The FAA and the Departm...
Google, Amazon Join Not-As-Cool-As-It-Sounds Drone Task Force
Written by Josh Wolford
  • The Federal Aviation Administration is getting proactive on drones, as the popularity of the unmanned aircraft systems (both personal and commercial) is only going to increase.

    The FAA and the Department of Transportation have announced a UAS Task Force and filled it with companies and organizations with stakes in the business of drones.

    The goal of the Task Force appears to be drone registration,

    “DOT Sec. Foxx set a deadline of Nov. 20 for the Task Force to complete its recommendations and work is already underway. The group will meet formally from Nov. 3-5 before developing recommendations on a streamlined registration process and minimum requirements on which unmanned aircraft should be registered. Given the urgency of this issue, the DOT and FAA will move expeditiously to consider the Task Force’s recommendations.”

    So, who’s on this drone Task Force?

    Amazon, Google, Best Buy, GoPro, and Walmart, among others.

    Here’s the full list, according to the FAA:

    Nancy Egan – 3D Robotics
    Richard Hanson – Academy of Model Aeronautics
    George Novak – Aerospace Industries Association
    Chuck Hogeman and Randy Kenagy – Air Line Pilots Association
    Jim Coon – Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
    Sean Cassidy – Amazon Prime Air
    Ben Gielow – Amazon Retail
    Justin Towles – American Association of Airport Executives
    Brian Wynne – Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
    Parker Brugge – Best Buy
    Douglas Johnson – Consumer Electronics Association
    Brendan Schulman – DJI
    Paul Feldman – General Aviation Manufacturers Association
    Dave Vos – GoogleX (Co-Chair)
    Tony Bates – GoPro
    Matt Zuccaro – Helicopter Association International
    Mike Fergus – International Association of Chiefs of Police
    John Perry – Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors
    Brandon Declet – Measure
    Randall Burdett – National Association of State Aviation Officials
    Sarah Wolf – National Business Aviation Association
    Baptiste Tripard – Parrot
    Tyler Collins – PrecisionHawk
    Gregory McNeal – Small UAV Coalition
    Thomas Head – Walmart

    Walmart is working on delivery drones. Google is too. We all know Amazon is champing at the bit to get Amazon Prime Air off the ground. Your dad is getting a drone too. You probably are. Drones are coming, and the FAA knows it needs to do everything it can to make sure it doesn’t devolve into a cluster.

    Image via ZullyC3P, Wikimedia Commons

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