By: Bridger Hawkinson Des Moines, IA - In a groundbreaking move, Representative Norlin Mommsen introduced a bill, H.F.2180, to the Iowa House of Representatives on January 29, 2024, suggesting the use of registered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the retrieval of wounded deer during hunting activities. The bill, if enacted, would amend the Iowa Code to allow licensed hunters to utilize drones for tracking and retrieving injured game, a development that has stirred both excitement and controversy within the state. The proposed legislation, authored by Representative Mommsen, a seasoned advocate for wildlife-related issues, aims to provide hunters with an additional tool for ethical and humane wounded deer recovery. The bill outlines specific conditions under which licensed hunters may deploy registered UAVs, emphasizing adherence to legal methods of dispatch authorized by the hunter's valid deer hunting license. However, the introduction of the bill has not been without its sha...

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, operate within the regulatory framework defined by 49 USC §40103, a critical component of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. This section grants the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the authority to regulate aircraft, airspace, and aviation facilities, ensuring the safe integration of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). It's important to note that 49 USC §40103's jurisdiction extends across the entire NAS, covering the United States, its territories, and airspace within the control of the United States. This comprehensive scope is crucial in maintaining uniformity and consistency in the regulation of unmanned aircraft. The definition of "aircraft" under 49 USC §40102(a)(6) is fundamental to understanding the FAA's regulatory authority. According to this definition, "aircraft" means any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate or fly in the air. This broad definition encomp...