S.Amdt. 3666

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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