In light of the more than 50 companies, universities, and government organizations that are developing and producing some 155 unmanned aircraft designs (FAA, 2014c), it is readily apparent that the FAA has a critical, if not daunting, task ahead of them as they formulate the laws that will govern UAS. UAS must be integrated into a NAS that is evolving from ground-based navigation aids to a GPS-based system in NextGen.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to watch the legal landscape in these 30 states that have enacted UAS laws as precedents are made and appeals to higher courts in the nation inevitably ensue. Federal law charges the FAA with ensuring the safe and efficient use of US airspace. This authority generally preempts any state or local government from enacting a statute or regulation concerning matters, such as airspace regulation, that are reserved exclusively to the US Government. However, state and local governments do retain authority to limit the aeronautical activities of their own departments and institutions.