South Bend Times

Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), who co-chair the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, have expressed support for a new proposal from Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that would expand drone operations beyond visual line of sight.

“America should be a global leader in aviation safety and innovation,” Rep. Yakym said. “This proposed rule will change the game for innovators, manufacturers, and consumers. It’s the first step to safely integrating new entrants like drones into our airspace. I want to thank Secretary Duffy for his thoughtful leadership on this issue.”

“I am pleased that the Department of Transportation has finally published a notice of proposed rulemaking for beyond visual line of sight operations for drones, as required by provisions I led in the 2024 FAA reauthorization,” Rep. Titus said. “Regulatory certainty for BVLOS operations will unleash new commercial and public safety uses for unmanned aircraft systems. In the coming weeks, I look forward to working with the members of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus to review the proposed rule and collect feedback from stakeholders.”

The announcement follows passage of the 2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, where Rep. Yakym served as Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee. The act included elements from bipartisan legislation such as The Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act (H.R. 3459), which aims to support growth in unmanned aircraft technology, and another bill co-led by Rep. Titus directing federal regulators to address rules around drone flights beyond visual line of sight.

According to an FAA fact sheet, under the draft rule, drone flights could take place up to 400 feet above ground level at designated locations but would not be permitted over large open-air events or crowded parks; population density would affect certain flight restrictions.

Earlier this year, both lawmakers also co-sponsored legislation designed to help law enforcement address potential drone threats at stadiums.

Rep. Yakym has represented Indiana’s 2nd District in Congress since 2022 (https://yakym.house.gov/about). He was born in 1984 and lives in Granger (https://yakym.house.gov/about). He graduated from Indiana University South Bend with associate’s and bachelor’s degrees earned in 2009 and 2011 respectively (https://yakym.house.gov/about).