The House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on drone safety, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) determines whether or not to move forward with an expansion of UAV commercial-use.
The FAA missed the Sept. 30 deadline for legalizing commercial UAS use, set by Congress in 2012 and says it is still in the process of developing regulations for increased use of the devices.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee is planning to meet on Oct. 7 to discuss methods for "ensuring aviation safety in the era of Unmanned Aircraft Systems [UAS]."
"Increases in reported UAS sightings by pilots and air traffic controllers have raised safety questions among stakeholders and the public," a statement from the Aviation Subcommittee stated.
The FAA said it has approved more than 1,700 drone flights under Section 333 exemption that allows the Transportation Department to waved requirements for FAA approval for unmanned aircraft operations in restricted airspace, below 200 ft.
However, drone advocate organizations favor a long-term solution for the widespread use over case-by-case approvals from the federal government.
