Key facts
- Fifteen US states and a Texas county are suing the FAA.
- The lawsuit challenges the FAA's environmental review of commercial drone package delivery rules.
- Plaintiffs allege the FAA failed to adequately analyze environmental and safety impacts.
- The case was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Fifteen US states, including California, New York, and Michigan, along with a Texas county, have filed a lawsuit against the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The legal challenge, lodged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, centers on the FAA's environmental review process for planned commercial drone package delivery rules. The plaintiffs contend that the FAA violated legal requirements by not sufficiently analyzing the potential environmental impacts and safety risks associated with expanded drone delivery operations. The FAA is developing a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate these potential environmental impacts, as drone package deliveries are expected to operate under 400 feet and require operator certification under FAA Part 135.