To amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify exceptions for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Mann (for himself and Ms. Davids of Kansas) introduced …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill amends the recreational drone rules to clarify that hobbyist drone pilots can operate in certain Class E airspace without needing additional FAA authorization. Previously, the law only explicitly mentioned Class G (uncontrolled) airspace. This adds Class E airspace above Class G, and Class E extensions to other controlled airspace areas.
Who Benefits and How
Recreational drone operators benefit by having clearer legal authority to fly in more areas without seeking special FAA permission. Drone manufacturers (DJI, Skydio, Autel) benefit from reduced regulatory barriers that may increase drone sales. Rural and suburban residents gain more places to legally fly recreational drones. Drone photography and videography hobbyists can access more scenic areas.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The FAA and air traffic control face slightly more complexity in managing shared airspace. Commercial aviation interests may have concerns about safety in expanded recreational drone zones. Local communities near Class E airspace may see increased drone activity.
Key Provisions
- Expands recreational drone authorization to include Class E airspace above Class G airspace
- Includes Class E extensions to Class B, C, D, or E surface areas
- Updates the statutory heading to reflect 'Uncontrolled and Class E' airspace
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Expands where recreational drone operators can fly without additional authorization by clarifying that certain Class E airspace is included alongside uncontrolled (Class G) airspace.
Policy Domains
Legislative Strategy
"Reduce regulatory friction for recreational drone hobbyists by clarifying existing statutory language to explicitly include Class E airspace"
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Class G is uncontrolled airspace (typically low altitude, rural). Class E is controlled airspace above 700/1200 feet AGL and extensions to other controlled areas.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology