WASHINGTON, D.C. – This evening, Senator Rob Portman successfully amended the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 to improve the process surrounding the integration of UAS test sites into the National Airspace System.  Senator Portman issued the following statement:

“This amendment will put Wright-Patterson in a better position to receive a test site and special air space for UAS research and testing.  This will solidify Wright-Patterson and the Dayton area’s role as a research hub in the aviation sector, and benefit local businesses and the highly trained workers both inside and outside of the fence at Wright-Patterson,” said Portman.

The Portman-Brown amendment will ensure that existing infrastructure is taken into account when selecting the test sites to reduce the taxpayer burden of building costly new infrastructure.  The amendment also increases the number of test sites from four to six and requires FAA to report its progress on meeting the needs of the Department of Defense within 180 days of enactment of the law.   The restricted airspace could allow for testing based out of Dayton, Springfield and Wilmington and has the potential for new job growth throughout Southwest Ohio.