A measure creating the Oklahoma Droneport Project Pilot Program to further state investment in innovative technologies gained approval from the House of Representatives and now moves to Governor Stitt’s desk.
Contingent upon availability of funds, Senate Bill 1688 would house the droneport program under the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission and would allow for coordination between the commission, community leaders and economic developers across the state to create jobs in the emerging Unmanned Aerial Systems industry.
“The possibilities for the Droneport Project Pilot Program and the future technologies it could bring to our state are very exciting,” Bergstrom said. “It has the possibility to inject dollars in our local communities, stimulate the economy and create countless jobs for graduates seeking a career in this progressive field.”
Bergstrom noted programs could be created and/or managed by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or the White House, and could include:
Autonomous vehicles and taxi services in cities;
- Drone delivery in limited areas;
- Unmanned ground cargo delivery projects;
- NASA Grand Challenge designation to test electric aircrafts;
- Drone designation programs; and
- Unmanned cargo trucks on closed Oklahoma roads with USDOT
Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, is the House author for the measure.
“The Oklahoma Droneport Project Pilot Program has the potential to position our state as an emerging leader in cutting-edge drone technologies,” McCall said. “The aerospace industry is already one of Oklahoma’s top economic engines, and further investment in the aeronautics industry could truly put our state on the map as a destination for future business and industry in this field.”