Bill > HR6618

This bill, titled the "Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act," requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study on the impact of drones, referred to as "unmanned aircraft systems" (UAS), on wildfire suppression efforts. The study will define "unmanned aircraft system incursion" as operating a drone in an area where the FAA has restricted flights due to a wildfire, and will also define "counter-UAS system" as technology used to detect and counter drones. In consultation with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (which manages the Forest Service), the FAA Administrator will examine how these drone incursions have interfered with wildfire suppression on federal lands over the past five years, specifically looking at the increased time to extinguish fires, delays in deploying aerial firefighting resources, and the resulting costs to the federal government. Additionally, the study will assess the practicality and effectiveness of educating the public about the dangers of drone incursions and the potential use of approved counter-drone systems by authorized entities to prevent such intrusions during wildfire operations. The FAA Administrator must then submit a report detailing the study's findings and any recommendations to relevant congressional committees within 18 months of the bill's enactment.