SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Know Before You Fly, an initiative to promote the safe and responsible use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), praises passage by the Utah Legislature of SJR 20, which recognizes the campaign as an official source of safety information for UAS operators in the Beehive State. The joint resolution, sponsored by Rep. Adam Robertson and Sen. Wayne Harper, acknowledges the growing popularity of UAS for both recreational and commercial purposes and the importance of “easily accessible and freely available” safety information through the Know Before You Fly campaign.
Two other states have passed resolutions this year in support of Know Before You Fly. You can read the full text of California’s resolution here and Rhode Island’s resolution here.
“I introduced this resolution to keep the skies safe for Utahans flying for recreation or business purposes alike and to raise awareness of the rules and regulations needed to operate UAS safely and responsibly,” said Rep. Robertson. “By passing this joint resolution, Utah demonstrates our commitment to safety and provides an official source of information for UAS operators across the state.”
“People across Utah are discovering that flying UAS is a fun hobby as well as an effective business tool,” Sen. Harper said. “The information about aviation rules and best practices provided on the Know Before You Fly website will help remote pilots learn the importance of maintaining a high level of safety that is critical to the continued success of the industry.”
Know Before You Fly provides UAS users with the information and guidance they need to fly safely and responsibly. Over 170 associations, organizations and businesses from the manned and unmanned aviation communities support the campaign, including Amazon, Best Buy, DJI and Walmart.
“We are glad that Utah is joining other states across the nation in supporting Know Before You Fly, which puts important safety information and flying tips in the hands of newcomers to the hobby,” said Chad Budreau, executive director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). “By doing so, Utah recognizes the growing interest in flying model aircraft and drones and joins us in our mission to keep the skies safe.”
The campaign was created in 2014 by AMA and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and launched in December 2014 in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“At the end of the day, the operator is responsible for the safety of an aircraft – whether it is manned or unmanned,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). “We are pleased that the Utah Legislature supports Know Before You Fly and is committed to providing legions of new flyers with the information they need to safely and responsibly take to the skies.”
The full text of the resolution can be found here.
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Know Before You Fly was launched in December 2014 by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and the Academy of Model Aeronautics in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, with the goal of spreading awareness about safe and responsible use of unmanned aircraft systems. For more information on safe and responsible flying, visit KnowBeforeYouFly.org or follow @FlyResponsibly on Twitter.