Bousquet Holstein forms drones practice group

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse law firm Bousquet Holstein PLLC has formed a new practice group that focuses on the legal issues surrounding the commercial and recreational use of small, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones.

Another related term, UAS, or “unmanned aerial systems,” is a common moniker in the industry to describe the “broader interplay” between UAVs and flight-management and safety systems.

The new practice group includes attorneys Aaron Frishman, Eva Wojtalewski, Philip Bousquet, Natalie Hempson, and Joshua Werbeck, the law firm said in a news release.

Over the next several years, the UAV/UAS industry is poised to play a “significant role” in the growth and evolution of commerce not only nationally and globally, but specifically in the Central New York region, the law firm contends.

Bousquet Holstein formed its drones practice group to work alongside clients to help them “successfully navigate the newly developing” legal and regulatory issues while pursuing opportunities for expanded commercial use of drone or UAS technology.

The firm’s practice group will work with clients that have Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registrations; section 333 exemptions; FAA regulatory-compliance matters, risk assessment, and other business and contract-related matters associated with the commercial use of UAVs.

Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 “grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine whether an airworthiness certificate is required for a UAS to operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS),” according to the FAA website.

Small drones are remote-controlled aircraft, typically weighing about 55 pounds or less, which a pilot can fly from a ground-control station. Pilots can fly the drones “autonomously,” using pre-programmed flight plans or “more complex, dynamic” automation systems, according to Bousquet Holstein.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com