Friday, March 15, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – Representative Shelley Hughes today introduced House Concurrent Resolution 6 which would establish a Task Force on Unmanned Aircraft Systems and recognizes the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

“We’ve been saturated recently with news about drones causing destruction and killing people, and we’ve been listening to hours of testimony nationally,” Hughes, R-Palmer, said. “Even local news reported just yesterday on this seemingly hot topic. The other side of the story may not be as newsworthy as death and filibustering, but it’s very important for Alaska.”

Unmanned aircraft have been used in Alaska for some years doing jobs that are determined “dull, dirty, and dangerous.” Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UA Systems) helped with guiding the oil tanker to Nome to restock their tank farm in the winter, locating a downed airplane near Bethel a few months ago, and have even been used for accurately counting sea lions that kept them off of the endangered species list. The missions that UA Systems have successfully completed have protected pilots that would have been flying in inclement weather and have conducted research in an economical fashion with reduced risk to human and animal lives.

At the same time, privacy concerns will not be ignored, according to Hughes. “Miniature helicopters will not be recording us while singing in the shower,” Hughes said. “But we won’t toss the baby out with the bath water. We can work to address those concerns and still embrace the technology that’s moving forward.”

HCR 6 has a referral to the House Special Committee on Economic Development, Trade and Tourism.