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CDA is an independent 501(c)(6) non-profit uniting commercial drone leaders to shape policy, foster innovation, and promote the economic, humanitarian, and safety benefits of drones.

06/17/2026

Congratulations to Caitlin Locke on her appointment as Associate Administrator for the FAA’s Aviation Safety Oversight and Certification Organization (AVS).

Caitlin brings a wealth of expertise to this position, including certification, rulemaking, and oversight, along with nearly two decades of leadership experience across the FAA. Her commitment to safety will be invaluable as the agency continues its important work advancing aviation innovation while maintaining the highest safety standards.

As the aviation ecosystem continues to evolve, strong leadership in safety oversight and certification is more important than ever. We look forward to working with Caitlin and the FAA to help ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in aviation and drone innovation.

Congratulations, Caitlin, on this well-deserved appointment.

Federal Aviation Administration

06/16/2026

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟮𝟬𝟵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱.

In just under a month, the public comment period will close on the FAA's proposed rule to establish a process for restricting unauthorized drone operations around certain fixed-site facilities.

This proposal has the potential to shape how security, infrastructure protection, and drone operations coexist in the low-altitude airspace for years to come.

Your perspective can help inform a final rule that is effective, practical, and supports the continued growth of the drone industry.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟲.

𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08943/designation-restrict-the-operation-of-unmanned-aircraft-in-close-proximity-to-a-fixed-site-facility

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West Liz Forro

06/12/2026

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗔 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

Following engagement between CDA, FAA, and DHS regarding the recently issued FIFA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), FAA is updating the associated NOTAMs to clarify that certain UAS operations may be permitted within the defined security airspace with DHS authorization.

For operators conducting Part 107 or Part 135 operations, DHS has established a process for requesting authorization.

This is a positive step that helps maintain security while allowing legitimate, authorized drone operations to continue.

CDA appreciates the responsiveness of FAA and DHS in addressing industry concerns and providing a path forward for operators impacted by these restrictions.

To request authorization, operators should contact [email protected] and provide:
• Which Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) they intend to operate in
• The city or area where the FRZ is located
• A point of contact available during operations

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West Liz Forro Molly Knudsen

05/27/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 — 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The Section 2209 NPRM is open for public comment through July 6, giving operators, manufacturers, public safety agencies, and infrastructure stakeholders an opportunity to help shape how the U.S. addresses unauthorized drone activity while preserving access for legitimate operations.

Industry input is critical to ensuring the final rule enhances security while enabling legitimate drone operations to scale.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08943/designation-restrict-the-operation-of-unmanned-aircraft-in-close-proximity-to-a-fixed-site-facility

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West Liz Forro

05/27/2026

The future of aviation policy leadership is looking like it’s in good hands.

CDA CEO Lisa Ellman’s daughter captured her mom hard at work: thumbs up, drone at hand, and getting things done for the commercial drone community!

We think it’s safe to say the mission is making an impression at home too. 😊

Lisa Ellman

05/21/2026

The Section 2209 NPRM is live in the Federal Register — and the drone industry now has an important opportunity to help shape the future of low-altitude airspace policy.

The proposal would establish a framework for restricting unauthorized drone operations around certain fixed-site facilities, with the goal of strengthening safety and security while still enabling legitimate operations.

This rulemaking has major implications for commercial drone operators, public safety agencies and critical infrastructure stakeholders.

The comment period is open through 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟲. We encourage the drone community to weigh in:

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝑷𝑹𝑴 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08943/designation-restrict-the-operation-of-unmanned-aircraft-in-close-proximity-to-a-fixed-site-facility

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West Liz Forro

05/19/2026

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 “𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲” 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The American Drone Leadership Summit will bring together policymakers, operators, manufacturers, investors, and innovators to examine what comes next for U.S. leadership in advanced aviation.

Featuring keynotes from high level officials from the White House, FAA, DHS, and more.

Sessions will explore how the U.S. can strengthen homeland defense, modernize airspace awareness, secure resilient domestic supply chains, and accelerate reindustrialization to support long-term drone leadership. Discussions will also explore dual use dominance, preparations for Part 108, and how the growing low altitude economy can help drive American aviation leadership forward.

The future of advanced aviation will depend on collaboration across industry and government. This summit on July 31 in Washington DC, is built to foster that collaboration.

Join the conversation.

𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧: https://www.commercialdronealliance.org/events/american-drone-leadership-summit-drone-dominance-and-airspace-sovereignty-one-year-later

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s GENIUS NY Innovation Night pitch finals — especially Flox Intelligence, which took home the $1 million grand prize.

This marks the third year that CDA has participated in the judging process, and we were honored to have our Policy Director, Liz Forro, serve alongside an impressive group of industry leaders.

Nearly 70% of CDA member companies are small businesses and entrepreneurs, which is why we are proud to support programs like GENIUS NY, an event that showcases the incredible innovation happening across the advanced aviation ecosystem.

Congratulations again to all of the finalists and participants driving the future of aviation forward.

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West

05/07/2026

𝗔 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲—𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

In our 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 white paper, we highlight the need for strong public-private collaboration to ensure infrastructure, technology, and workforce development keep pace with demand.

The path forward is clear:
• Promote public-private partnerships to focus on workforce development and infrastructure retooling.
• Leverage existing partnerships to close technology gaps.
• Partner with Industry to aggregate demand and foster a viable, sustainable Industrial Base.

When government and industry move in sync, we can accelerate innovation, strengthen supply chains, and ensure long-term competitiveness.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺:
https://lnkd.in/eWDuicwq

Lisa Ellman Gretchen West Liz Forro

05/05/2026

We welcome today’s long-awaited proposal from the FAA and U.S. DOT to protect critical infrastructure from unauthorized drone operations.

This NPRM to implement Section 2209 is a major milestone. The CDA has long advocated that innovation and security are two sides of the same coin. Any low-altitude airspace framework must enable authorized commercial drone operations while protecting sensitive sites from rogue activity.

“We look forward to reviewing this proposal to ensure it safeguards critical infrastructure while enabling safe, scalable commercial operations,” said CDA CEO Lisa Ellman.

“This is a pivotal moment for the entire ecosystem,” added CDA Policy Director Liz Forro. “Operators and stakeholders alike should engage and help shape a final rule that works in practice.”

Once published, stakeholders will have 60 days to comment. We look forward to working with our members and partners to help ensure the final rule strengthens U.S. drone leadership while protecting sensitive sites from careless, clueless and criminal drone activity.

𝗪𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗶𝗻:
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-08943.pdf

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗗𝗔: www.commercialdronealliance.org.

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