According to an article by Dronelife.com:
As the landscape of aviation continues to evolve, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finds itself under growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Recent concerns focus on FAA workforce reductions and the agency’s increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, especially as these changes affect the safety of the national airspace.
FAA Workforce Cuts Raise Safety Questions
In recent months, the FAA has reduced its staff, including critical safety analysts and support personnel. A group of eleven U.S. Senators, led by Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Ed Markey, have formally asked for detailed information regarding these staffing cuts. Their main worry is that fewer employees mean the FAA might miss important safety risks, particularly as air traffic becomes more complex.
One key issue is the FAA’s ability to monitor and manage thousands of near-miss incidents—events where aircraft come dangerously close to one another. The Senators pointed out that many such events at major airports have not been flagged for further investigation, partly because there aren’t enough staff members to analyze the data.
AI Steps In, but with Questions
To tackle the challenge of a smaller workforce, the FAA has increasingly turned to AI tools. These technologies help the agency analyze large amounts of safety data, such as near misses, more quickly than humans alone could. While AI can improve efficiency, Congress is concerned that relying too much on technology could reduce safety if human oversight is diminished.
Lawmakers have requested more transparency about the kinds of AI tools the FAA uses, how well they work, and how FAA staff are trained to use these systems. They want to ensure that AI supports, rather than replaces, human experts.
Drones and AI: A Growing Connection
Drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), are becoming a critical part of America’s airspace. Congress and the FAA are actively working on rules to allow drones to operate beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS), a necessary step for many commercial uses like delivery or inspections.
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Be sure to visit the BWU Technology Partnerships Initiative website to learn more about how our NEOFIX program drives economic growth, promotes policy and infrastructure to improve drone safety and efficiency in various industries, and ensures that drone technology is being used responsibly.