House Concurrent Resolution 2009 Summary

• Supports Arizona's selection as one or more of six national test ranges for operating unmanned aircraft systems in shared national airspace under the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.

• Directs the Arizona Commerce Authority to pursue Certificates of Authorization from the FAA to begin range operations during 2013 if the FAA continues to delay selecting the national test ranges.

• Recognizes Arizona's military infrastructure, aerospace industry, and technical workforce as strategic assets for competing for unmanned aircraft systems projects and supporting national defense priorities.

• Acknowledges that establishing FAA national test ranges in Arizona will create economic benefits through research, development, and operations of unmanned aerial systems, generating jobs and revenue.

• Notes that unmanned aircraft systems testing represents a high-priority defense and national security budget area with emerging civilian business opportunities as manned and unmanned aircraft integration advances.