II 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5040 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 11, 2020 
Received 
AN ACT 
To direct the Director of the Bureau of Land Management 
to study the effects of drone incursions on wildfire sup-
pression, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Jan 04, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5040.RDS
H5040
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
HR 5040 RDS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Aerial Incursion Re-
percussion Safety Act of 2020’’ or the ‘‘AIR Safety Act 
of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF DRONE INCURSIONS ON 
WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Director of the Bureau 
of Land Management, in consultation with the Chief of 
the Forest Service, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, and the National Association of State 
Foresters, shall conduct a study on the effects of drone 
incursions on the suppression of wildfires with respect to 
lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the 
Department of Agriculture. 
(b) STUDY CONTENTS.—In conducting the study re-
quired under subsection (a), the Director shall— 
(1) determine, for each of the five most recently 
completed calendar years, the number of occurrences 
in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire 
suppression and the effect of each such occurrence 
on— 
(A) the length of time required to achieve 
complete suppression; 
(B) the effectiveness of aerial firefighting 
responses; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Jan 04, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5040.RDS
H5040
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
HR 5040 RDS
(C) the amounts expended by the Federal 
Government; and 
(2) evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 
various actions to prevent drone incursions, includ-
ing— 
(A) temporary flight restrictions of the 
Federal Aviation Administration; and 
(B) the dissemination of education mate-
rials relating to the effects of drone incursions 
on wildfire suppression. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall sub-
mit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Com-
mittee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the 
findings of the study required under subsection (a) and 
any recommendations of the Director relating to such 
findings. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DRONE.—The term ‘‘drone’’ means an un-
manned aircraft system, as defined in section 44801 
of title 49, United States Code, owned by a private 
individual or entity. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Jan 04, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5040.RDS
H5040
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
HR 5040 RDS
(2) DRONE INCURSION.—The term ‘‘drone in-
cursion’’ means the operation of a drone within any 
airspace for which the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration has issued a temporary 
flight restriction because of a wildfire. 
(3) WILDFIRE SUPPRESSION.—The term ‘‘wild-
fire suppression’’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 46320(d) of title 49, United States Code. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 10, 
2020. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:02 Jan 04, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5040.RDS
H5040
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS