Drone Safety Enhancement Act

This bill, known as the Drone Safety Enhancement Act , establishes a framework for enhanced collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on critical research. It recognizes that research and development in autonomous aviation are vital for ensuring United States competitiveness as the National Airspace System transitions to more automated operations. Specifically, the Administrator of NASA is directed to continue research on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) , including areas like UTM and autonomous capabilities. This research must be conducted in collaboration with the FAA, other relevant federal agencies, and representatives from academia and industry. Furthermore, NASA is mandated to provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees within 18 months of the Act's enactment, detailing the progress of this collaborative research.