[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 55 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3666. Mr. VITTER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 3464 submitted by Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson) 
to the bill H.R. 636, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
permanently extend increased expensing limitations, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Beginning on page 86, strike line 22 and all that follows 
     through page 88, line 19, insert the following:
       ``(b) Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operational Rules.--
       ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft 
     systems into Federal Aviation Administration plans and 
     policies, other than sections 44803 and 44809, the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not 
     promulgate any rule or regulation regarding the operation of 
     a micro unmanned aircraft system, the aircraft component of 
     which weighs 4.4 pounds or less, including payload, including 
     any requirement that requires the operator of any such system 
     to meet any airman certification requirement, including any 
     requirements under section 44703 of this title, part 61 of 
     title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any other rule or 
     regulation relating to airman certification.
       ``(2) Operational rules.--A micro unmanned aircraft system 
     and the operator of that system shall qualify for the 
     exemptions under this subsection if the following rules for 
     operations of such systems are observed:
       ``(A) Operation at an altitude of less than 400 feet above 
     ground level.
       ``(B) Operation with an airspeed of not greater than 40 
     knots.
       ``(C) Operation within the visual line of sight of the 
     operator.
       ``(D) Operation during the hours between sunrise and 
     sunset.
       ``(E) Operation not less than 5 statute miles from the 
     geographic center of an airport with an operational air 
     traffic control tower or an airport denoted on a current 
     aeronautical chart published by the Federal Aviation 
     Administration, except that a micro unmanned aircraft system 
     may be operated within 5 statute miles of such an airport if 
     the operator of the system--
       ``(i) provides notice to the airport operator; and
       ``(ii) in the case of an airport with an operational air 
     traffic control tower, receives approval from the air traffic 
     control tower.
       ``(3) Exemptions from operational regulations.--
       ``(A) Part 91 regulations.--Sections 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 
     91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), and 91.407(a)(1), paragraphs 
     (1) and (2) of section 91.409(a), and subsections (a) and (b) 
     of section 91.417 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, 
     shall not apply with respect to the operation of a micro 
     unmanned aircraft system in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(B) Certificate of waiver or authorization.--A micro 
     unmanned aircraft system operated in accordance with this 
     subsection may be operated by any person without a 
     certificate of authorization or waiver from the Federal 
     Aviation Administration.
       ``(C) Future regulations.--A micro unmanned aircraft system 
     operated in accordance with this subsection, and the operator 
     of such a system, shall be exempt from any additional 
     requirements that may be prescribed pursuant to this subtitle 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, except for any 
     additional requirements prescribed pursuant to sections 44803 
     and 44809.
       ``(4) Alternative regulations.--Instead of being operated 
     in accordance with this subsection, a micro unmanned aircraft 
     system may be operated pursuant to any form of authorization, 
     operational rules, or exemptions pertaining to unmanned 
     aircraft systems prescribed by the Administrator, except that 
     a micro unmanned aircraft system and its operator shall be 
     exempt from any requirement for an airman certificate or 
     medical certificate.
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