Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Flirtey, a pioneer of commercial drone delivery, at the national unveiling of their ‘Flirtey Eagle’ drone. Last year, Flirtey and the City of Reno were selected to participate in the highly competitive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program, which continues to attract investments, create jobs and drive innovation in Nevada. Senator Cortez Masto also highlighted the Silver State’s position as a leader in innovative technology development.
“It’s companies like Flirtey, and the Silver State’s FAA designation as a drone test site, that are helping cement Nevada’s status as the Innovation State. By making deliveries quicker and safer, the drone industry can save lives and improve quality of life for communities across the country, all while generating investments and creating jobs. When I toured Flirtey’s cutting edge manufacturing facility two years ago, I saw firsthand the importance of the work they’re doing to diversify our local economy and develop industry-leading technologies. I’ll continue to work in the Senate to promote innovative Nevada led businesses, sustain Nevada’s drone industry and provide the safety and regulatory certainty our pioneering technology companies need to thrive.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto toured Flirtey’s manufacturing facility in 2017 and worked with the Department of Transportation to include Northern Nevada in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program.
Under her Innovation State initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has introduced and sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to help strengthen Nevada’s technology sector. Last Congress, she was able to extend the authorization of the State of Nevada’s UAS test site and help promote drone education efforts like “Know Before You Fly” within the Senate’s version of the FAA reauthorization bill. She has also previously introduced the Safe DRONE Act, which advances the development and safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems and supports workforce training programs.
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