H. R. 302—103 
(3) the use of models, threat assessments, probabilities, 
and other methods to distinguish between lawful and unlawful 
operations of unmanned aircraft; and 
(4) appropriate systems, training, intergovernmental proc-
esses, protocols, and procedures to mitigate risks and hazards 
posed by unlawful or harmful operations of unmanned aircraft 
systems. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the update 
under subsection (a) in consultation with representatives of the 
aviation industry, Federal agencies that employ unmanned aircraft 
systems technology in the national airspace system, and the 
unmanned aircraft systems industry. 
(d) PROGRAM ALIGNMENT REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress, a report that describes 
a strategy to— 
(1) avoid duplication; 
(2) leverage capabilities learned across programs; 
(3) support the safe integration of UAS into the national 
airspace; and 
(4) systematically and timely implement or execute— 
(A) commercially-operated Low Altitude Authorization 
and Notification Capability; 
(B) the Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot 
Program; and 
(C) the Unmanned Traffic Management Pilot Program. 
SEC. 343. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TEST RANGES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 44803. Unmanned aircraft test ranges 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall carry out and update, as appropriate, a pro-
gram for the use of the test ranges to facilitate the safe integration 
of unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the program 
under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) designate airspace for safely testing the integration 
of unmanned flight operations in the national airspace system; 
‘‘(2) develop operational standards and air traffic require-
ments for unmanned flight operations at test ranges; 
‘‘(3) coordinate with, and leverage the resources of, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the 
Department of Defense; 
‘‘(4) address both civil and public unmanned aircraft sys-
tems; 
‘‘(5) ensure that the program is coordinated with relevant 
aspects of the Next Generation Air Transportation System; 
‘‘(6) provide for verification of the safety of unmanned air-
craft systems and related navigation procedures as it relates 
to continued development of standards for integration into the 
national airspace system; 
‘‘(7) engage test range operators, as necessary and within 
available resources, in projects for research, development,
H. R. 302—104 
testing, and evaluation of unmanned aircraft systems to facili-
tate the Federal Aviation Administration’s development of 
standards for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into 
the national airspace system, which may include solutions for— 
‘‘(A) developing and enforcing geographic and altitude 
limitations; 
‘‘(B) providing for alerts by the manufacturer of an 
unmanned aircraft system regarding any hazards or limita-
tions on flight, including prohibition on flight as necessary; 
‘‘(C) sense and avoid capabilities; 
‘‘(D) beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations, nighttime 
operations, operations over people, operation of multiple 
small unmanned aircraft systems, and unmanned aircraft 
systems traffic management, or other critical research 
priorities; and 
‘‘(E) improving privacy protections through the use of 
advances in unmanned aircraft systems technology; 
‘‘(8) coordinate periodically with all test range operators 
to ensure test range operators know which data should be 
collected, what procedures should be followed, and what 
research would advance efforts to safely integrate unmanned 
aircraft systems into the national airspace system; 
‘‘(9) streamline to the extent practicable the approval 
process for test ranges when processing unmanned aircraft 
certificates of waiver or authorization for operations at the 
test sites; 
‘‘(10) require each test range operator to protect proprietary 
technology, sensitive data, or sensitive research of any civil 
or private entity when using that test range without the need 
to obtain an experimental or special airworthiness certificate; 
‘‘(11) allow test range operators to receive Federal funding, 
other than from the Federal Aviation Administration, including 
in-kind contributions, from test range participants in the fur-
therance of research, development, and testing objectives. 
‘‘(c) WAIVERS.—In carrying out this section the Administrator 
may waive the requirements of section 44711 of title 49, United 
States Code, including related regulations, to the extent consistent 
with aviation safety. 
‘‘(d) REVIEW
OF OPERATIONS
BY TEST RANGE OPERATORS.— 
The operator of each test range under subsection (a) shall— 
‘‘(1) review the operations of unmanned aircraft systems 
conducted at the test range, including— 
‘‘(A) ongoing or completed research; and 
‘‘(B) data regarding operations by private and public 
operators; and 
‘‘(2) submit to the Administrator, in such form and manner 
as specified by the Administrator, the results of the review, 
including recommendations to further enable private research 
and development operations at the test ranges that contribute 
to the Federal Aviation Administration’s safe integration of 
unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system, 
on a quarterly basis until the program terminates. 
‘‘(e) TESTING.—The Secretary of Transportation may authorize 
an operator of a test range described in subsection (a) to administer 
testing 
requirements 
established 
by 
the 
Administrator 
for 
unmanned aircraft systems operations.
H. R. 302—105 
‘‘(f) COLLABORATIVE
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
AGREE-
MENTS.—The Administrator may use the other transaction authority 
under section 106(l)(6) and enter into collaborative research and 
development agreements, to direct research related to unmanned 
aircraft systems, including at any test range under subsection (a), 
and in coordination with the Center of Excellence for Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems. 
‘‘(g) USE OF CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS.—The Administrator, in carrying out research necessary 
to implement the consensus safety standards requirements in sec-
tion 44805 shall, to the maximum extent practicable, leverage the 
research and testing capacity and capabilities of the Center of 
Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and the test ranges. 
‘‘(h) TERMINATION.—The program under this section shall termi-
nate on September 30, 2023.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
448, as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘44803. Unmanned aircraft system test ranges.’’. 
SEC. 344. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT IN THE ARCTIC. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 44804. Small unmanned aircraft in the Arctic 
‘‘(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transportation shall 
develop a plan and initiate a process to work with relevant Federal 
agencies and national and international communities to designate 
permanent areas in the Arctic where small unmanned aircraft 
may operate 24 hours per day for research and commercial purposes. 
‘‘(b) PLAN CONTENTS.—The plan under subsection (a) shall 
include the development of processes to facilitate the safe operation 
of small unmanned aircraft beyond the visual line of sight. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS.—Each permanent area designated under 
subsection (a) shall enable over-water flights from the surface to 
at least 2,000 feet in altitude, with ingress and egress routes 
from selected coastal launch sites. 
‘‘(d) AGREEMENTS.—To implement the plan under subsection 
(a), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with relevant 
national and international communities. 
‘‘(e) AIRCRAFT APPROVAL.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 
1 year after the entry into force of an agreement necessary 
to effectuate the purposes of this section, the Secretary shall 
work with relevant national and international communities 
to establish and implement a process for approving the use 
of a small unmanned aircraft in the designated permanent 
areas in the Arctic without regard to whether the small 
unmanned aircraft is used as a public aircraft, a civil aircraft, 
or a model aircraft. 
‘‘(2) EXISTING PROCESS.—The Secretary may implement an 
existing process to meet the requirements under paragraph 
(1).’’.
H. R. 302—106 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
448 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44804. Small unmanned aircraft in the Arctic.’’. 
SEC. 345. SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SAFETY STANDARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 44805. Small Unmanned aircraft safety standards 
‘‘(a) FAA PROCESS
FOR ACCEPTANCE
AND AUTHORIZATION.— 
The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
establish a process for— 
‘‘(1) accepting risk-based consensus safety standards related 
to the design, production, and modification of small unmanned 
aircraft systems; 
‘‘(2) authorizing the operation of small unmanned aircraft 
system make and model designed, produced, or modified in 
accordance with the consensus safety standards accepted under 
paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) authorizing a manufacturer to self-certify a small 
unmanned aircraft system make or model that complies with 
consensus safety standards accepted under paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(4) certifying a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft 
systems, or an employee of such manufacturer, that has dem-
onstrated compliance with the consensus safety standards 
accepted under paragraph (1) and met any other qualifying 
criteria, as determined by the Administrator, to alternatively 
satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—Before accepting consensus safety 
standards under subsection (a), the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall consider the following: 
‘‘(1) Technologies or standards related to geographic limita-
tions, altitude limitations, and sense and avoid capabilities. 
‘‘(2) Using performance-based requirements. 
‘‘(3) Assessing varying levels of risk posed by different 
small unmanned aircraft systems and their operation and tai-
loring performance-based requirements to appropriately miti-
gate risk. 
‘‘(4) Predetermined action to maintain safety in the event 
that a communications link between a small unmanned aircraft 
and its operator is lost or compromised. 
‘‘(5) Detectability and identifiability to pilots, the Federal 
Aviation Administration, and air traffic controllers, as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(6) Means to prevent tampering with or modification of 
any system, limitation, or other safety mechanism or standard 
under this section or any other provision of law, including 
a means to identify any tampering or modification that has 
been made. 
‘‘(7) Consensus identification standards under section 2202 
of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public 
Law 114–190; 130 Stat. 615). 
‘‘(8) To the extent not considered previously by the con-
sensus body that crafted consensus safety standards, cost-ben-
efit and risk analyses of consensus safety standards that may
H. R. 302—107 
be accepted pursuant to subsection (a) for newly designed small 
unmanned aircraft systems. 
‘‘(9) Applicability of consensus safety standards to small 
unmanned aircraft systems that are not manufactured commer-
cially. 
‘‘(10) Any technology or standard related to small 
unmanned aircraft systems that promotes aviation safety. 
‘‘(11) Any category of unmanned aircraft systems that 
should be exempt from the consensus safety standards based 
on risk factors. 
‘‘(e) NONAPPLICABILITY
OF
OTHER
LAWS.—The process for 
authorizing the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems under 
subsection (a) may allow for operation of any applicable small 
unmanned aircraft systems within the national airspace system 
without requiring— 
‘‘(1) airworthiness certification requirements under section 
44704 of this title; or 
‘‘(2) type certification under part 21 of title 14, Code of 
Federal Regulations. 
‘‘(f) REVOCATION.—The Administrator may suspend or revoke 
the authorizations in subsection (a) if the Administrator determines 
that the manufacturer or the small unmanned aircraft system is 
no longer in compliance with the standards accepted by the 
Administrator under subsection (a)(1) or with the manufacturer’s 
statement of compliance under subsection (h). 
‘‘(g) REQUIREMENTS.—With regard to an authorization under 
the processes in subsection (a), the Administrator may require 
a manufacturer of small unmanned aircraft systems to provide 
the Federal Aviation Administration with the following: 
‘‘(1) The aircraft system’s operating instructions. 
‘‘(2) The aircraft system’s recommended maintenance and 
inspection procedures. 
‘‘(3) The manufacturer’s statement of compliance described 
in subsection (h). 
‘‘(4) Upon request, a sample aircraft to be inspected by 
the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure compliance with 
the consensus safety standards accepted by the Administrator 
under subsection (a). 
‘‘(h) MANUFACTURER’S STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE FOR SMALL 
UAS.—A manufacturer’s statement of compliance shall— 
‘‘(1) identify the aircraft make, model, range of serial num-
bers, and any applicable consensus safety standards used and 
accepted by the Administrator; 
‘‘(2) state that the aircraft make and model meets the 
provisions of the consensus safety standards identified in para-
graph (1); 
‘‘(3) state that the aircraft make and model conforms to 
the manufacturer’s design data and is manufactured in a way 
that ensures consistency across units in the production process 
in order to meet the applicable consensus safety standards 
accepted by the Administrator; 
‘‘(4) state that the manufacturer will make available to 
the Administrator, operators, or customers— 
‘‘(A) the aircraft’s operating instructions, which con-
form to the consensus safety standards identified in para-
graph (1); and
H. R. 302—108 
‘‘(B) the aircraft’s recommended maintenance and 
inspection procedures, which conform to the consensus 
safety standards identified in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(5) state that the manufacturer will monitor safety-of- 
flight issues and take action to ensure it meets the consensus 
safety standards identified in paragraph (1) and report these 
issues and subsequent actions to the Administrator; 
‘‘(6) state that at the request of the Administrator, the 
manufacturer will provide reasonable access for the Adminis-
trator to its facilities for the purposes of overseeing compliance 
with this section; and 
‘‘(7) state that the manufacturer, in accordance with the 
consensus safety standards accepted by the Federal Aviation 
Administration, has— 
‘‘(A) ground and flight tested random samples of the 
aircraft; 
‘‘(B) found the sample aircraft performance acceptable; 
and 
‘‘(C) determined that the make and model of aircraft 
is suitable for safe operation. 
‘‘(i) PROHIBITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) FALSE STATEMENTS OF COMPLIANCE.—It shall be unlaw-
ful for any person to knowingly submit a statement of compli-
ance described in subsection (h) that is fraudulent or inten-
tionally false. 
‘‘(2) INTRODUCTION INTO INTERSTATE COMMERCE.—Unless 
the Administrator determines operation of an unmanned air-
craft system may be conducted without an airworthiness certifi-
cate or permission, authorization, or approval under subsection 
(a), it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly introduce 
or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any small 
unmanned aircraft system that is manufactured after the date 
that the Administrator accepts consensus safety standards 
under this section unless— 
‘‘(A) the make and model has been authorized for oper-
ation under subsection (a); or 
‘‘(B) the aircraft has alternatively received design and 
production approval issued by the Federal Aviation 
Administration. 
‘‘(j) EXCLUSIONS.—The Administrator may exempt from the 
requirements of this section small unmanned aircraft systems that 
are not capable of navigating beyond the visual line of sight of 
the operator through advanced flight systems and technology, if 
the Administrator determines that such an exemption does not 
pose a risk to the safety of the national airspace system.’’. 
(b) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS RESEARCH FACILITY.—The 
Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems shall establish 
an unmanned aircraft systems research facility to study appropriate 
safety standards for unmanned aircraft systems and to validate 
such standards, as directed by the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration, consistent with section 44805 of title 49, 
United States Code, as added by this section. 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
448 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44805. Small unmanned aircraft safety standards.’’.
H. R. 302—109 
SEC. 346. PUBLIC UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 44806. Public unmanned aircraft systems 
‘‘(a) GUIDANCE.—The Secretary of Transportation shall issue 
guidance regarding the operation of a public unmanned aircraft 
system— 
‘‘(1) to streamline and expedite the process for the issuance 
of a certificate of authorization or a certificate of waiver; 
‘‘(2) to facilitate the capability of public agencies to develop 
and use test ranges, subject to operating restrictions required 
by the Federal Aviation Administration, to test and operate 
public unmanned aircraft systems; and 
‘‘(3) to provide guidance on a public agency’s responsibilities 
when operating an unmanned aircraft without a civil airworthi-
ness certificate issued by the Administration. 
‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall enter into an agree-
ment with each appropriate public agency to simplify the 
process for issuing a certificate of waiver or a certificate of 
authorization with respect to an application for authorization 
to operate a public unmanned aircraft system in the national 
airspace system. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—An agreement under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) with respect to an application described in para-
graph (1)— 
‘‘(i) provide for an expedited review of the applica-
tion; 
‘‘(ii) require a decision by the Administrator on 
approval or disapproval not later than 60 business 
days after the date of submission of the application; 
and 
‘‘(iii) allow for an expedited appeal if the applica-
tion is disapproved; 
‘‘(B) allow for a one-time approval of similar operations 
carried out during a fixed period of time; and 
‘‘(C) allow a government public safety agency to operate 
an unmanned aircraft weighing 4.4 pounds or less if that 
unmanned aircraft is operated— 
‘‘(i) within or beyond the visual line of sight of 
the operator; 
‘‘(ii) less than 400 feet above the ground; 
‘‘(iii) during daylight conditions; 
‘‘(iv) within Class G airspace; and 
‘‘(v) outside of 5 statute miles from any airport, 
heliport, seaplane base, spaceport, or other location 
with aviation activities. 
‘‘(c) PUBLIC ACTIVELY TETHERED UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration shall permit the use of, and may issue 
guidance regarding, the use of public actively tethered 
unmanned aircraft systems that are—
H. R. 302—110 
‘‘(A) operated at an altitude of less than 150 feet above 
ground level; 
‘‘(B) operated— 
‘‘(i) within class G airspace; or 
‘‘(ii) at or below the ceiling depicted on the Federal 
Aviation Administration’s published UAS facility maps 
for class B, C, D, or E surface area airspace; 
‘‘(C) not flown directly over non-participating persons; 
‘‘(D) operated within visual line of sight of the operator; 
and 
‘‘(E) operated in a manner that does not interfere with 
and gives way to any other aircraft. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—Public actively tethered unmanned 
aircraft systems may be operated — 
‘‘(A) without any requirement to obtain a certificate 
of authorization, certificate of waiver, or other approval 
by the Federal Aviation Administration; 
‘‘(B) without requiring airman certification under sec-
tion 44703 of this title or any rule or regulation relating 
to airman certification; and 
‘‘(C) without requiring airworthiness certification under 
section 44704 of this title or any rule or regulation relating 
to aircraft certification. 
‘‘(3) 
SAFETY
STANDARDS.—Public 
actively 
tethered 
unmanned aircraft systems operated within the scope of the 
guidance issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be exempt 
from the requirements of section 44805 of this title. 
‘‘(4) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this subsection shall 
be construed to preclude the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration from issuing new regulations for public 
actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems in order to ensure 
the safety of the national airspace system. 
‘‘(d) FEDERAL AGENCY COORDINATION TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC 
HEALTH AND SAFETY CAPABILITIES OF PUBLIC UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS.—The Administrator shall assist Federal civilian Govern-
ment agencies that operate unmanned aircraft systems within civil- 
controlled airspace, in operationally deploying and integrating sense 
and avoid capabilities, as necessary to operate unmanned aircraft 
systems safely within the national airspace system.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
448 of title 49, United States Code, as added by this Act, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘44806. Public unmanned aircraft systems.’’. 
(2) PUBLIC UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS.—Section 334 of 
the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 
40101 note) and the item relating to that section in the table 
of contents under section 1(b) of that Act (126 Stat. 13) are 
repealed. 
(3) FACILITATING
INTERAGENCY
COOPERATION.—Section 
2204(a) of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 
2016 (Public Law 114-190; 130 Stat. 615) is amended by striking 
‘‘section 334(c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 
2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 44806 
of title 49, United States Code’’.
H. R. 302—111 
SEC. 347. SPECIAL AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘§ 44807. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft 
systems 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other requirement of 
this chapter, the Secretary of Transportation shall use a risk- 
based approach to determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems 
may operate safely in the national airspace system notwithstanding 
completion of the comprehensive plan and rulemaking required 
by section 44802 or the guidance required by section 44806. 
‘‘(b) ASSESSMENT
OF
UNMANNED
AIRCRAFT
SYSTEMS.—In 
making the determination under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
determine, at a minimum— 
‘‘(1) which types of unmanned aircraft systems, if any, 
as a result of their size, weight, speed, operational capability, 
proximity to airports and populated areas, operation over 
people, and operation within or beyond the visual line of sight, 
or operation during the day or night, do not create a hazard 
to users of the national airspace system or the public; and 
‘‘(2) whether a certificate under section 44703 or section 
44704 of this title, or a certificate of waiver or certificate 
of authorization, is required for the operation of unmanned 
aircraft systems identified under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS
FOR SAFE OPERATION.—If the Secretary 
determines under this section that certain unmanned aircraft sys-
tems may operate safely in the national airspace system, the Sec-
retary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such 
aircraft systems in the national airspace system, including operation 
related to research, development, and testing of proprietary systems. 
‘‘(d) SUNSET.—The authority under this section for the Secretary 
to determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate 
safely in the national airspace system terminates effective Sep-
tember 30, 2023.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for chapter 
448, as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘44807. Special authority for certain unmanned aircraft systems.’’. 
(2) SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYS-
TEMS.—Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 
of 2012 (49 U.S.C. 40101 note) and the item relating to that 
section in the table of contents under section 1(b) of that 
Act (126 Stat. 13) are repealed. 
SEC. 348. CARRIAGE OF PROPERTY BY SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS FOR COMPENSATION OR HIRE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 448 of title 49, United States Code, 
as added by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: