2025 Drone & AAM Policy Symposium: Michael Robbins Keynote Remarks

July 29, 2025

Keynote remarks delivered by AUVSI President and CEO Michael Robbins at the Drone & AAM Policy Symposium on July 29, 2025:

Good morning, everyone. 

It is great to be with you here at Nationals Park for the 2025 Drone and AAM Policy Symposium.  

The venue is a little different than the Charm City Convention Center … but we thought it would be a fitting location for an event centered on aviation and autonomy, an industry that depends on teamwork and high-energy performance.  

Though, that sounds a lot more like my first place Detroit Tigers than the Washington Nationals … 

I want to begin by thanking our sponsors – as you might imagine, hosting an event of this size in a Major League ballpark is pretty cool, but is not inexpensive.  

Our sponsors are a big part of the reason we are able to hold this event, and we are grateful for their leadership. 

Thank you to our sponsors: 

• Our Thought Leaders: Agricultural Drone Initiative, Amazon Prime Air, AX Enterprise, Crown Consulting, Dzyne Technologies, Echodyne, Qualcomm, Tulsa Innovation Labs, uAvionix, Viasat, Wing (which is flying drones outside) 

• Our Influencers: Ascent AeroSystems, Carahsoft, DEXA (also flying drones outside), Warren Community College, Wisk, Hextronics (also flying)  

• Our brand partners: Athule Aero, Honeywell, Maryland Department of Commerce, NASA, Reliable Robotics, Zipline 

• Our lunch sponsor: Iridium 

• And our Media Partners: Airborne Incident Response Team, Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network, Flight Safety Foundation, GAMA, Inside Unmanned Systems, P3 Tech Consulting, This Week in Drones 

Wow – thank you all. Honored.  

And quickly, thank you to the AUVSI team for your incredible work pulling this event together – truly a Team effort. I am grateful for your dedication to our members and the industry.  

A round of applause for our generous sponsors and the AUVSI team.  

This event is occurring at a critical moment for our industry. The landscape for drones, advanced air mobility, and aviation technology is shifting rapidly. From new Executive Orders to regulatory rulemaking, and from mounting security concerns to accelerating Modern Skies, we are navigating a period of profound transformation.  

Over the next two days, you will engage with leaders from both industry and government, including Capitol Hill and agency representatives from the DOT, FAA, TSA, DoD, DHS, NASA, Commerce, Coast Guard, CBP, NTIA, FCC, and others.  

These conversations are fundamental to our forward movement, and the strong federal government presence here reflects a growing recognition that drones and AAM systems are delivering measurable value in real-world operations as:  

• a force multiplier for public safety,  

• making infrastructure inspections safer and more efficient,  

• improving logistics and material transport,  

• aiding in precision agriculture, and 

• strengthening our national security and economic resilience. 

AUVSI is proud to convene this symposium as part of our ongoing effort to bring policymakers, regulators, and industry innovators to the table to collectively work on the safe and secure integration of advanced aviation systems into our national airspace.  

Getting into the current policy environment, I’ll start by addressing the elephant in the room – the Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or Part 108, rulemaking.  

Or, rather, the lack thereof.  

Last year at this event, industry was anxiously awaiting this draft rule. Here we are again.  

Promises have been made. Promises have been broken. Deadlines set. Deadlines missed.  

Despite intense Congressional oversight, statutory deadlines from Congress, and an Executive Order from the President of the United States, the draft BVLOS rule still has not been published.  

As I noted last month in Congressional testimony, the 2024 FAA Reauthorization law set firm deadlines to move the long-awaited Part 108 BVLOS rule forward. The first of those Congressional deadlines was missed, as of today, by 316 days. 

The Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order signed by President Trump last month set a deadline for the BVLOS draft to be released within 30 days, or by July 6.  

That deadline – from the President of the United States – passed 23 days ago.  

So Congress’ deadline has been missed by more than 10 months and the President’s deadline by more than 3 weeks.  

Let that sink in.  

This is a real Whiskey Tango Foxtrot moment. 

Here’s what we know: 

• We know that the FAA has taken herculean steps to move the draft rule forward.   

• We know that there have been intergovernmental squabbles and turf battles on the substance of the draft rule.  

• We understand 108 is no longer just an FAA rule but now also lists TSA on the rule title. 

• We know that Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is reviewing the rule again, for the second time, after failing to publish before the Administration changed, and the clock is ticking and ticking and ticking.  

And lastly, we know: “It is the policy of the United States to ensure continued American leadership in the development, commercialization, and export of UAS by accelerating the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System through timely, risk-based rulemaking that enables routine advanced operations.” 

That is from the President of the United States. June 6, 2025.  

BVLOS is a priority for the FAA. It is a priority for Congress. A priority for the President, and yet, here we are. 

I am exasperated about this. I know many of you are too. 

Because as I said at this event a year ago and many times since, we are still only talking about a draft rule. There is time to sort out differences during the review, comment, and adjudication period.  

To underscore how urgent this rulemaking is, BVLOS waivers approved by the FAA grew by 88% year-over-year, and there are now more than 657 active waivers, the highest number in program history.  

That is a lot of extra work for industry and for the FAA – whereas having a rule to adhere to reduces regulatory red tape and saves the taxpayer and industry time and money. 

We are going to get there, but it is going to require more hard work. More grit. More advocacy. 

And let me clear, when the draft rule is finally published, which it will be soon, knives will be out. 

As an industry, we must remain united.  

We must be vocal and thoughtful in our comments.  

We must be vigorous in our advocacy. 

Because let there be no doubt – opponents of expanding drone operations and of autonomy broadly within government, industry, and labor will be out to further delay or even kill this rulemaking. We cannot allow that to happen.  

So, while like you, I am obviously exasperated about the lack of progress on BVLOS, I nevertheless remain hopeful. 

We will get the draft rule out soon. We will get to a final 108 rule. We will prevail.  

Deep breath …now that I am moving past 108, there is actually a lot to be excited about. 

There is tremendous progress being made throughout the advanced aviation industry. Taken as a whole, this is an exciting time for all of us who are fortunate enough to work in this domain. 

We are seeing the emergence of new missions for drones as technology evolves, exciting eVTOL aircraft approaching certification, new autonomy stacks enabling enhanced safety, and new communications networks enhancing airspace awareness and safety.  

Companies at the leading edge of aviation are investing in expanded production facilities, hiring new talent, and building the supply chains that will power this industry for decades. And many of those companies are here with us today. 

As mentioned, a couple of operators are going to fly drones right here in Nationals Park. That in and of itself is progress and not something we could have pulled off just a short time ago.  

Public perception of drone operations – despite a setback from the New Jersey media hype last December – are very good.  

I saw the enthusiasm firsthand down in Dallas, Texas, where communities are jockeying to be the next to get a drone delivery hub, and last week at AirVenture in Oshkosh where drone and AAM companies were among the stars of the show. 

The FAA has made progress through initiatives like the SFAR and MOSAIC.   

The SFAR marked a pivotal milestone for the powered lift segment of AAM, positioning the U.S. to maintain global leadership in this emerging sector. While there is much to celebrate in that short-term rule, our work is far from over.  

AUVSI will continue working with the FAA to ensure long-term performance-based rulemaking that unlocks the full potential of AAM, from reducing emissions and noise to improving connectivity for rural and urban communities and advancing towards enhanced automation and autonomous operations. 

The MOSAIC light sport rule announced last week at Oshkosh reflects a broader and ongoing shift toward performance-based standards that allow new propulsion systems, autonomous capabilities, and innovative aircraft architectures to move forward in a regulated environment. That’s real progress.  

The Department of Defense is doing its part too. The recent SecDef memo – Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance – cleared a path for faster acquisition of American-built systems by reducing red tape and prioritizing NDAA-compliant platforms.  

The DIU’s Blue UAS Cleared List is now accessible to platforms that complete the AUVSI Green UAS certification process. We are proud to be one of three official assessors supporting this effort, alongside other trusted partners. 

When coupled with new funding streams from the One Big Beautiful Bill, we have a real opportunity to reindustrialize, scale component and platform manufacturing, and get uncrewed systems into the hands of our warfighters. 

The Department of Commerce is also taking meaningful action. We applaud the initiation of the long overdue Section 232 investigation into UAS imports and their components, and we commend the Bureau of Industry and Security’s concurrent rulemaking under its ICTS authority for addressing critical national security gaps in the drone supply chain.  

AUVSI strongly supports these actions, and we urge the Commerce Department to act swiftly to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers and safeguard America’s drone ecosystem from undue reliance on subsidized, adversary-aligned systems. 

Later today, you’ll hear more on the ICTS rulemaking process during our fireside chat with Liz Cannon, executive director of OICTS within the Bureau of Industry & Security at Commerce. 

At the state level, we are also seeing meaningful progress.  

I was with Governor Whitmer in Detroit a few weeks ago as Michigan launched a comprehensive statewide drone and AAM initiative focused on infrastructure, industrial capacity, and operational deployments funded with state grants.  

Arizona recently passed AAM Prepared legislation to streamline integration and attract investment. 

And California is actively considering similar legislation to coordinate efforts across transportation, economic development, and emergency services.  

These efforts demonstrate what is possible when states align their resources and vision to build the future of flight while leveraging the innovative leadership, advanced technologies, and domestic manufacturing capabilities of American companies. 

None of this progress will be sustainable without continued investment in the aviation workforce. The next generation of aviation professionals must be equipped with the skills and training to operate, maintain, and innovate in an increasingly autonomous and digitally connected airspace.  

AUVSI is proud to partner with numerous Collegiate Training Initiative schools as part of our advanced drone training program, Trusted Operator, to provide a higher level of drone knowledge, flight proficiency, and safety and risk management practices that are valued by employers and customers of commercial drone operators. 

We must also invest in the future of air traffic control technologies. AUVSI is a proud member of the Modern Skies coalition, and we applaud the leadership of DOT Secretary Duffy and his team, including Deputy Administrator Rocheleau, for making this a priority. 

AUVSI urges that modernization investments include low-altitude airspace awareness and digital infrastructure to ensure the future National Airspace System can safely accommodate both crewed and uncrewed operations at scale. 

AUVSI envisions a future with zero air and ground collisions, and universal electronic conspicuity is key to making that vision a reality.  

Electronic conspicuity provides every airspace user with the ability to “see and be seen,” ensuring safer operations in today’s increasingly complex NAS, especially at low altitudes where crewed and uncrewed aircraft share the skies. 

ADS-B is not universally mandated and isn’t practical for all users. That’s why we need an FAA-approved, low-cost, low-power EC solution—technology that already exists, is approved in other nations, and can bring all users into a cooperative safety environment while protecting privacy and operator autonomy. 

Universal EC offers a scalable, realistic path to shared visibility and mutual situational awareness for all. We urge the FAA to take swift action to approve this safety critical technology. 

Shifting to security issues, the urgency is clear. Unauthorized drones have caused disruptions near airports, military bases, energy facilities, and even the White House grounds. All of the progress we are making as an industry is at risk if we fail to address the growing security threats posed by the malicious use of drones. 

Every time a drone is misused to spy, disrupt, or threaten, it erodes public trust and jeopardizes the lifesaving, job-creating, future-defining promise of drone technology. 

Recent conflicts highlight that small UAS can be powerful tools or dangerous weapons depending on who controls them. Domestic policy must reflect this reality, from reducing national security risks posed by PRC-made drones to expanding counter-UAS authorities. 

This priority was reinforced during AUVSI’s testimony earlier this month before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee, where we outlined solutions to counter malicious drone activity and called for robust, scalable counter-UAS measures.  

We applaud the Trump Administration’s recent Restoring American Airspace Sovereignty Executive Order, but executive action alone is insufficient. Congress must act.  

As skies grow busier, distinguishing trusted operations from potential threats is essential. We need legislation that broadly expands detection authority. 

We also need legislation that expands mitigation authority, but more narrowly and coupled with federal training, oversight, and accountability. 

As I said to Congress a few weeks ago, we should not have to wait until after an incident happens to take action.  

Another key unresolved rulemaking is Section 2209 of the 2016 FAA Extension Act, which requires the FAA to create a process for critical infrastructure operators to petition for airspace restrictions.  

Nearly a decade later, this rule remains incomplete, leaving states to enact their own laws and creating a patchwork of regulations that fosters confusion and uncertainty for infrastructure operators, law enforcement, and drone operators.  

2209 is vital not only for security but for regulatory clarity, consistency, and public trust. The U.S. government must finalize this rule without delay. 

As is clear, many of today’s most urgent challenges cut across traditional agency boundaries. This program was designed with that in mind, aiming to support coordination and alignment between the agencies that will ultimately shape implementation.  

We are grateful to all of the government leaders who have joined us here. Your presence sends a clear signal that the future of aviation is being taken seriously, and that the time for action is now. 

We are equally grateful to our industry attendees, many of whom traveled across the country to be here. Your work is changing the world by enhancing safety and security, and your voice is needed at the table. 

Thank you for being part of this effort. I look forward to a productive and inspiring two days with all of you. 

It is my honor to introduce our next speaker, Daniel Edwards, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs for the Department of Transportation. In this vital role, Dan is responsible for shaping and implementing policies that impact the economic health and international competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and broader transportation sector. 

Prior to joining DOT, Dan has dedicated his entire career to aerospace and defense and his accomplishments have landed him atop diverse organizations spanning the public, private and military space. He has served as CEO of privately held businesses in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as in supply chain and distribution. 

Dan also has extensive business leadership experience in airborne C4ISR systems and airfield infrastructure. Notably, he was part of the team that worked closely with FAA to develop and commercialize Engineered Materials Arrestor System, which protects commercial runways in the U.S. and internationally against aircraft runway overruns. 

Dan served over 23 years in the U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserves, both as a KC-10 pilot and airfield civil engineer. He flew more than 100 combat missions, holds type ratings in the DC-10 and 757/767, and has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours as a military and commercial pilot. 

Please join me in welcoming Dan to the stage. 

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