September 8, 2015
The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
Governor of California
The Capitol
Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Brown,
As an entrepreneur, small business owner, and lifelong Californian, I strongly urge you to veto SB 142, which was recently introduced by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson and passed by the California Legislature. This bill only serves to increase the unfounded fears that people unfamiliar with unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have, and will not make California safer from the risks associated with UAS technology. Rather, it will hurt the UAS industry, and suppress small businesses in California. For the sake of my business, our clients, and all of the people that UAS technology could benefit, I insist that you veto SB 142.
Having spent nearly 2 years working in the UAS industry, and years more flying radio controlled aircraft, I have a great deal of experience that allows me to understand the true impact of SB 142. By restricting flights below 350 feet, a large number of potential UAS applications, from photography to infrastructure inspection, become much more difficult, if not impossible. This means that an industry that could employ thousands of photographers, designers, pilots, artists, and students, is restricted before it even has a chance to grow. Soon, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will finalize its rules on integrating commercial UAS into the national airspace, which could open the door to endless possibilities across the country. However, if California insists on having the most restrictive rules on UAS technology, then these benefits may never be realized.
For small businesses like mine, it is bills like this that make the difference success and failure. I love California and want to grow my business here, hire more employees here, grow the economy, and contribute to a safer, cleaner, and more efficient world. That is why I so strongly insist that you veto SB 142 and allow the UAS industry to grow to its full potential.
Sincerely,
Logan Campbell
Founder & CEO
Aerotas