In an effort to restore airspace security, speed up the development of American drone technology, and pave the way for supersonic air travel, President Trump signed three executive orders on Friday.
Officials from the White House who were involved in crafting the three directives stressed their importance to national security, saying that they will be especially needed in the years leading up to big international events like the Olympics and the World Cup that will be held in the United States.
Along with improving safety and security, the new directives will encourage more innovation in the aerospace and drone industries, which have been hindered by overly regulatory policies in previous years, according to White House officials.
“Flying cars are not just for the Jetsons,” said Michael Kratsios, a key tech policy advisor at the White House… Drones have enormous promise for improving national security, infrastructure, agriculture, public safety, and the creation of high-skilled employment. President Trump has been aware of this since the start of his first term. However, bureaucracy has long stifled domestic drone innovation, limiting their economic application and making their development more difficult.
A similar sentiment was expressed by Kratsios regarding supersonic flight, who stated, “Americans should be able to fly from New York to LA in under four hours.”
In addition to encouraging innovation, the rules aim to strengthen American sovereignty over its airspace. Any danger that may be associated with crime or terrorism is not the exclusive target of this order. Increased fines and a decrease in the frequency of drone abuse in American airspace are other goals.
New executive orders were issued on Friday, according to Sebastian Gorka, senior director of counterterrorism on the Trump administration’s National Security Council. “The president week one wanted us to take this issue seriously because of the national fury over the events over New Jersey,” Gorka said.
“For far too many years, we have not had a requisite, necessary federal response — not only to the dominance of non-U.S. platforms in this field, but also protecting sensitive sites, military sites, critical infrastructure, but also just sporting events, mass events.”
The new executive orders would increase security for important infrastructure at sporting facilities, according to White House officials who briefed the president on them. This includes the forthcoming FIFA World Cup. Additionally, they will pave the way for “routine beyond visual line of sight commercial operations,” which includes things like drone deliveries, infrastructure maintenance, and responding to emergencies like wildfires.
Officials also noted that the purchases will lessen America’s need on other nations for aviation technology, such as drones.
“These executive orders will accelerate American innovation in drones, flying cars and supersonic aircraft and chart the future of America’s skies for years to come,” said Kratsios. “Our point is straightforward. American aerospace is where innovation belongs.