Sen. Boozman Sees Opportunity in Drones

As the Federal Aviation Administration works to develop guidelines integrating unmanned aerial devices, or drones, into civilian airspace, some people see an opportunity for the Arkansas economy.

One such person is U.S. Senator John Boozman. A supporter of drone technology, Boozman, who sits on the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, sees plenty of applications for drones.

“Senator Boozman is interested in the possibilities that the remotely piloted aircraft industry could bring to Arkansas, including in training, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and other potential opportunities,” Boozman spokesperson Sara Lasure said.

Industry advocate the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, or AUVSI, predicts a profound surge in the manufacture of drones for use in a variety of endeavors, particularly agriculture and public safety, when and if the FAA adopts regulations.

Using an economic model that assumes job growth will mimic aerospace manufacturing employment, AUVSI estimates that drones will generate more than 100,000 jobs, 608 of them in Arkansas, by 2025.

But a state like Arkansas could claim a bigger share of the market if lawmakers made it attractive for manufactures to locate here, said Ben Gielow, AUVSI’s general counsel.

“Basically, the jobs are up for grabs,” he said.