Policy and Advocacy

WE WORK COLLECTIVELY WITH FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS TO ENABLE THIS GAME-CHANGING TECHNOLOGY.

Technology is outpacing the speed of policymaking in the United States. Due to regulatory paralysis that has prevented scalable UAS operations, the vast benefits of commercial drones cannot yet be truly realized here in the United States.

The U.S. has always been a technological leader, but U.S. leadership in advanced aviation today hangs in the balance.

We are an industry-led, 501(c)6 non-profit association advocating for the safe and secure integration of commercial drones and supporting commercial enterprise end users. Our vision is to support and assist the advanced aviation and commercial drone communities by safely and securely integrating this safety and efficiency-enhancing technology into the National Airspace System. 

CDA provides our members with a platform through which their voices and opinions can be heard. The CDA regularly meets with stakeholders across the federal government including from Congress, the White House, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, NASA and more. The CDA is well-known as an active and thoughtful voice for the commercial drone industry – on commercial drone benefits to the White House, on FAA Reauthorization to the Senate Commerce Committee, on advanced aviation research and development to the House Science Committee, and much more.

Over the last year, CDA has participated in several advocacy campaigns on issues of critical importance to our community. To review some of the CDA’s positions and statements, please visit the links below.

Coalition Letter to DOT for Acceleration of BVLOS Rulemaking - July 25, 2024

CDA Applauds Passage of FAA Reauthorization of 2024 - May 16, 2024

CDA Support Letter for FAA Reauthorization 2024 - May 2, 2024

UAS Remote Identification FAQs by CDA and AUVSI - March 15, 2024

Coalition Letter in Support of S. 1631 Senate FAA Reauthorization - February 26, 2024

CDA, AUVSI, CTA, SUAV Coalition Letter Opposing SB 16 - February 23, 2024

CDA Comments on FAA's MOSAIC - January 24, 2024

CDA Comments to the Utah UAS Registration Fee Rule - January 16, 2024

CDA Comments to the Proposed Policy Update on the Definition of Aeronautical Activities - January 15, 2024

CDA FCC NSS Comment/Response to Implementation of National Spectrum Strategy - January 2, 2024

CDA Comments on FAA's Civil Aviation Noise Policy - September 29, 2023

CDA Comment on NYC Proposed Ordinance - July 7, 2023

Written Testimony of Lisa Ellman, CDA Executive Director, Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Statement of Support for the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023

Written Testimony of Lisa Ellman, CDA Executive Director, Before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation

CDA Proposals for FAA Reauthorization

Industry Letter on U.S. Leadership in Advanced Aviation

CDA Support Letter for Congressional Renewal and Expansion of the Preventing Emerging Threats Act

CDA Statement Regarding the Presidential Budget for Fiscal Year 2023

CDA Concurrence to FAA Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee Report

CDA Comment Promoting DOT NETT Council Action on UAS