The bill aims to address drone incursions affecting wildfire suppression efforts. It mandates the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the impact of drones on wildfire suppression, including the delay caused and the costs incurred. Additionally, it requires the evaluation of measures to prevent drone incursions, such as using counter-drone radio towers, employing reasonable force to disable drones, seizing drones, and disseminating educational materials. The bill also requires the submission of a report, including findings and recommendations, to specified congressional committees within 18 months of enactment. This legislation primarily concerns studying and addressing the adverse effects of drone incursions on wildfire suppression.
Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act
This bill directs the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to study the effects of unmanned aircraft system (i.e., drone) incursions on wildfire suppression on public lands.
Specifically, the FAA must study drone operations in any airspace for which the FAA issued a temporary flight restriction because of a wildfire on land managed by the Departments of Agriculture or the Interior. Among other things, the study must determine the number of occurrences over the last five years in which a drone incursion interfered with wildfire suppression and estimate the effects of each occurrence.
The study must also evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of (1) deploying counter-drone systems to detect, mitigate, and prevent drone incursions during wildfire suppression operations; and (2) disseminating educational materials related to the effects of the incursions on wildfire suppression operations.
The FAA must submit a report to Congress on the study's findings and any related recommendations.
