The Role of Drones in Growing Louisiana’s Economy

Welcome back to trends in America by market scale I'm your host. Greinke Yeah. I'm a partner in the unmanned aircraft systems team leader at the law firm of atoms and Reese today I'm joined by Carrie Coco who's a partner at the Pelican State partners in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And I'm also joined by jostle Alford who's a commissioner with the homeless Caribbean Airport Commission today we are focusing on my home state of Louisiana, as well as the general use of drones in the Gulf Coast region. There are many very potential in these are industries down here along the Gulf Coast and I know the three of us are really making an effort to try and draw attention to those potential uses to grow the industry down here. And we'll get more into that in a little bit. But first, I want to welcome to the program. Let's start with Kerry. Coke is a partner in state partners. Carrie welcome to the program. Yeah, Thanks grant. I really appreciate the time and the efforts and energy you put into this as of late. And again, I'm with Pelican State partners government relations and lobbying team based out of Louisiana Baton Rouge specifically. And I have been involved in the past five years with unmanned systems drones not only politically trying to curb the laws to really encourage this industry. But on a commercial and a private level as well. Just getting in to the drone industry and technology as a whole. So that really brings me to the table today. Carrie tell me about how you became interested in drones. Yeah, I guess I started full time 5 years ago with government relations team and we actually represented DJI. So when my first year full time represented DJI we worked with them on an assortment of issues because over the last, I believe it's about eight years, we've had over 20 different builds offer dealing directly with either operations commercially privately whether it's a peeping Tom laws to drone right of use. There's been an assortment of issues that the legislature has considered. And so in representing DJI got a full knowledge and kind of education by firehose real quickly to kind of get ahead of some of the things that were potentially damaging to the industry. So that kind of brought me to the table. And that was five years ago. We represent them for a while. We're no longer under contract but that kind of opened my eyes to this industry and the technology itself. I ended up getting a DJI drone at the times was kind of understanding when you're kind of communicating and relaying information about how the user acts and how it communicates with the unmanned vehicle that helps having that hands on knowledge. So I've grown I've got two or 3. Now So from a private side of things I've been able to enjoy just individual aspects of it that I just find really exciting. And I think as we're moving towards more technology. It's good for me. Good for business good for kind of the whole circle of things that I'm kind of in that space. I do use them regularly. So it helps me just become more fluent with the technology move absolutely and that's pretty remarkable. You represent DJI actually, they're not a small name in the industry. We've had them on the program and quite frankly, they were a trailblazer for much of the industry. And I often say that we owe them a huge debt for all the great work they've done in this industry. Right now there obviously are some issues with distrust of Chinese source drones and what I do on the program. I don't comment on that. I don't take a position one way or the other. I just point out that it's there. So it's interesting to see this dynamic and to really look at the security risks. But also to keep in mind just all the great things CGI has done for the industry. And I think they're stopping or slowing down anytime soon. So again, it's cool that you've had an involvement with factory jobs. Let's move to you. You are a commissioner at the homeless airboat airport mission. Tell me about how you became a commissioner with that group joined about four going on four years ago. And since I've been on there. We know that the group itself has been working on drones for the last 20 years trying to get industry and a program propped up. But since I've joined, we invested money into actually making a reality. And since then, we've gotten a 1.3 million grant. We've gotten the governor to signed an executive making us UAV airport in the state of we see some legitimacy and also have email use signed with our parish government terrible parish in the South Central industrial association the Chamber of Commerce and actually North Dakota University because they have one of the largest programs in the country. And being that we're located where we are right on the goal with tons of infrastructure already in existence. We would make a great partner of their areas for research and development to be able to do everything they're doing up there like border patrol pipeline inspection all of that. But over water. And so we're excited and we're I think breaking ground in January on the EPS funding and actually creating a portion of the airport designated for UAV as that's fantastic. And I know, Congressman Garrett graves has been pretty pivotal role in this initiative. It's great to have someone from my hometown band rage who's so heavily involved in this is for above it obviously, he's the ranking member of the aviation subcommittee and chairman of the congressional caucus. So it's great to have that support from Congress. But I also do feel like the FAA is taking a greater interest in the Gulf state region. I've had several conversations with Jay Merkle the head of US integration with the FAA and they certainly are aware of all the potential down here. So it's nice to see that the commission is really taking advantage of our strategic location and all the benefits. It can provide to the industry. Now, it's interesting because I've been doing this program. Now for about this podcast since February and it's almost like I never have Southerners on it ever. I'm always the only one with a southern accent. I always joke about it, but last week, I had an education panel and all four of those individuals were from the South. Coincidentally I didn't plan it that way. I had the two of you on today and next week. I'm going to line up some drone operated companies that are from the South. Again I didn't plan. This almost like this is the month of Saab or a cluster of weeks that are dedicated to southern drone use. And I think that's important for several reasons. When we think of the United States in drone use we often think North Carolina, South Dakota has done some great things. Arizona is doing some cool things. There's lots of cool things going on in Virginia and with, again with the oil and gas industry. And everything else we have going on down here. I think it's critical that we take our attention to the potentials for these address down here. So I'm going to start with Kerry. Kerry tell me you know, obviously, I mentioned oil and gas but what are some of the other industries that you could see drones easily being incorporated into. Down here. Yeah, I think some of the exciting industries, a lot of insurance inspection review and in a roof inspection, the home inspection things where anytime you're serving a structure, you can send up a drone with the appropriate sensors on it, which if you're thinking about safety and getting people down from ladders or out or cherry pickers and you have the right sensors to be able to appropriately investigator inspect a building or a line or a power line or something where if there is an issue now you know that yes I need it. I need to scale up this and get it done. But I think from a technology side. I mean that the power companies, the telecommunication companies I know, they've invested a lot. I know our home base entergy has a whole drone program that they're really expanding and going gangbusters with Turner industries with, which is your basic you're not very secure your large scale construction and they're using that to do a lot even inspecting the whole site plans just like an overarching scale of a day to day update and as you're going along. You can show your client. Here's the development just from and aesthetically how we're going. Right not even getting down to the granular details. But I think you'll start to see where developments and where you'll see home and formation of things where yesterday was just the foundation today. You've got structures put up and things growing up in the air. So I think that's one of the things. And obviously, the delivery piece of it the Amazon's the FedExCup is the Walmart of the world. They've already been doing this for years and years. But publicly they're starting to really show some test case. And we see that across the nation where you're seeing some delivery of whether it's an Amazon package or medical supplies. I think there's a niche there. And then moving even closer than we think. I think as a passenger you know Austin to Dallas you know California is doing some stuff over there. That's unique and different. So you know I think it's endless the possibilities are endless. But I think for Louisiana sake we've really got to get ahead of this because we usually find ourselves at the last at the bottom of the barrel as far as changing for technology needs. But I think we have something to offer here that if we don't attack it here from Louisiana steak we've got Texas, Mississippi, Alabama. That would all want to jump into this game and they will. We just need to be prepared for when they do bring dollars or things start happening. We're poised and ready to take advantage of those states already are starting to take advantage of the opportunity. Certainly you brought up telecommunications and energy and you and I talked offline about this briefly, but losing public Service Commission actually has a docket open right now. It's a disaster response that's protocols docket in a component of that is examining whether the use of drones in storm restoration efforts should be mandatory on incredibly interesting. I have not found another piece of proposed regulation or legislation anywhere else in the country where a regulatory body has actually said, hey, you may have to use drones. We're hearing a lot of that going on in California with PG&E. And all that. In this instance though I just I find I say interesting not sure what's going to come on it is still open ended. But I did mention takes this very seriously. And it is good to see that they do understand the value that drones can bring not just the cost cutting, but the risk reducing capabilities as well. It's much safer to send. It's grown up after a storm to inspect a tower than it is a human being. You also brought up deliveries and you're absolutely right. I would say, because it is heavily too. I don't say to credit because it makes it sound like it's a past sort of thing. It's not things. But it has had positive effects for the commercial drone industry in the past six months. So much of my law practice has transitioned into drone deliveries. I used to be doing other aspects of drone use. But now everyone wants to embrace drone delivery. And I think the reason is the public really is starting to see how this technology can be utilized to encourage social distancing and promote safety. One of my clients drone up is partnering with Walmart and they're delivering heavy 19 tests in say in the United States. And I was on hand in cheektowaga New York, a couple of weeks to see it in very the action from these vulnerable populations. These elderly people senior citizens when they realize they don't have to go to a pharmacy or stored up to retrieve a 19 test. It's amazing to see how happy they are. They didn't know that drones could do this. They thought just weapons because that's how TV news that that's how it's portrayed to us. So COVID kind of has really resulted in a silver lining for our industry. Josh, what are some other instances Louisiana in which you see the potential for dry news. I know you talked about having the first US airport system at home a terrible, terrible airport. Explain to me what that looks like. Yes so I mean, definitely piggyback on one area and you said disaster relief. 100% But more. So the natural disasters you have the BP oil spill what if you had eyes on that 24/7 and the greatest part about where we're located is you fly off the air or in your open water. So you don't have to worry about anyone getting endangered. You don't have to fly over any homes. And so what better place to test these drones and their capabilities and just like delivery. What if we're delivering as a test. What if we're delivering goods and whatever else off to these offshore platforms where people can get things rather than waiting till they come back to land or waiting for a boat to come. You know they're getting it on a daily basis. And whether that's used for just testing purposes or through the long term you know it's probably both. But they have to do that. And I mean, the possibilities are endless. And something I didn't mention before is we do at Fletcher and Nichols as partners we're talking to Lum gone all these people are players in this. And we have email use signed with everyone with the exception of Lincoln and where we're trying to not recreate the wheel, but follow the models set forth by North Dakota and they have companies that have located there like Northrop Grumman, and others because they're able to do things in their airspace that they can't do anywhere else in the country. And we hope to be the same thing because will be the only ones overwater if we become a test site or an extension of a test site. And I think that the possibilities are endless. And it's going to attract and attract jobs attract companies where the oil and gas is the backbone of what makes the Louisiana economy roll. But we're building it off of that backbone and complementing it. And I think a lot of people are trying to I'm not trying to segue from your question. But a lot of people are worried about automation and taking away jobs. Well well we're trying to get this off the ground and little poem of Louisiana because those jobs are going to be automated in some form or fashion. And we better be the hub where these people are being trained to work on the tools that are automating the jobs and transition people. So that they have good paying jobs because they are very well-paying jobs. And so the possibilities are endless. I'm an insurance. And just to get ahead of the curve before this storm point out the weak areas. And then right after flyover and what's the most pressing issue. We have to get things rolling. You know all those things that you made a few great points there in terms of the off shore deliveries. I find that particularly interesting because that seemed almost like an ideal pilot program opportunity and perhaps some of this has been in the works. But I really would like to see the FAA consider enabling advanced operations for that particular purpose you're not going to be flying really over people not terribly too much, you can avoid it certainly a good bet. It's more just crossing over a body of water for a period of time. And you know it also raises interesting legal questions as well. When you're talking about flying beyond the line of sight as presumably that would be you're talking about more than a mile out or so. And it's going to take a good bit of manpower and distance to get the drones where it wants to go. You then are implicating part 135 and under that scenario a drone with certain exceptions a drone has to be type certified, which that is just now becoming a real hot topic because up to this point, there were certain exemptions available. But now we're going to see more and more drones going for type certification. So it would be so cool to have Louisiana be one of the first states to have a type certified. I'm just throwing that out there. Don't know if any of your clients will get the message. Freeman well. But I think that would be really cool to have Louisiana having on the first type certified drones for that purpose. Carrie I want to move on to legislation and talk about some of the legislation. We have in Louisiana. Typically a broad attorneys there aren't that many of us. But those that are out there cringe when we hear about state and local drone laws for various reasons. But the big one being that the FAA does have the authority over the airspace and when another level of government is regulating certain aspects of drone operations there can be some conflict. What further complicates this is that the FAA doesn't take a hardline stance on preemption meaning that it allows some wiggle room for states and municipalities to govern drone operations. But having said all that, the Louisiana statutes are actually pretty great. One in particular and correct me if I'm wrong is a section to Title I section 2. Is that right. That's right. So that went basically just solidifies the fact that the FAA has parental authority over the state. But that if a municipality tries to do something state drone law trials and actually, I like that kind of law and it's great to see. I know you are part of that. Explain what that whole process was about. Yeah, let me put my history lesson here. So go back to it. I'm sorry Senator Carter. Hopefully I'll jump on another time with you. Senator Troy Carter out of New Orleans back in 2017 after defeating a 2016 bill that dealt with basically trying to create property lines to the sky high over Europe, where there was business or whether it's your residential property we were able to really amend that bill enough down to where it really didn't have any meat left on the bone. And so end up dying. But after that, we felt like in 2017 Senator Carter we approached him and said, as we move into this technology phase, there's no doubt that there's going to be these drone issues that happen parish by parish. And if you know Louisiana politics local governments are very key and critical to the citizens and the local governments. And it's a part of our culture to have very vocal and local politics at play. So one thing that is difficult sometimes is to do pre-emption language where you're not giving a local government authority over XYZ in this case. I think we were we were just early enough on the technology side and the drone safety side of things to kind of bring this bring this bill through and what sb 69 did in 2017 was preempt the locals from having a patchwork of regulations and instead gave it to DO TV under their aviation division. So what this just allowed us to do as an industry where there is commercial private allows you to fly knowing the rules knowing the state rules and laws and applying them to whether your flight is better and better. It's going to West Baton Rouge or you're in HOMO and you're going to a different parish in the air. There wouldn't be a dividing line saying, hey, when you cross that parish line, you're going to now be on this new set of rules and regs. So that that really gave us some consistency, and I think DOJ, the Department of Transportation development under the aviation division really is one of the best in nation. And I think Josh can speak to that too. I mean, they work hand-in-hand with general aviation the commercial air airports and then also they really encourage the industry to be at the table when they're discussing what these drone rules and regs can be. And so they really had their hands off it. I think that was error right now, Bill. We really need to. I guess, do something else or do something different or pivot. I think they're open for that conversation. But it is a lot of credit to getting Dr. Sean Wilson was there at the time getting him on board that he was going to be able to do this. I think there is some issues when it comes down to local police and the gasoline governing authority and they're like, well call TV, and there's still some local rules and regs dealing with crime and punishment that are still handled there. But as far as an overarching how to fly what you can what you can't. Things like that you go to the aviation will handle the rules on that. So we're excited about that. And then as we're continuing to go. You know there's been some voyeurism peeping Tom crime scene. You can't fly over crime scenes during certain Italian airstrikes circulation of evidence and things. So it has although infecting affecting you know unmanned spaces. It starts to bring in freedom of press, freedom to fly drone users hobby users commercial users the oil and gas industry, the chemical associates you're going up and down the river. There's been some conversations about flying over goods and critical infrastructure jails, prisons does bring a lot of people to the table because they're there an issue either in the bill or maybe going to have an issue with the bill. So there is a lot of attention around it may not be all in favor of what we want. But like you said earlier, I think the drone I'm going to say that the scared. The scary word of drones is really getting is really getting diminished. At first, we'd like to use drones use unmanned. We used these other terms. But drone was the word we wanted to use. And I think finally read a place where you can start using that word. And it's not being received as, Oh my gosh, big brothers here. Check in on me and look into my window. I think we've got to move beyond that. And I do think COVID has really said to heck with everything. If it's technology. And we can do something easier or more efficient. Let's look at it today and not in three or four years. Absolutely Kerry I completely agree. And I'll also add that you mentioned passports parts of lost. This is a very real concern. I represent a couple of drone pilot networks. And when you talk about having to change operations across county lines because the local laws differ because there's no hard pre-emption in place. It's problematic. It really is. So this is not just a theoretical issue. All right. It's one that hopefully as things evolve we'll be able to see more uniformity. We only have a couple of minutes left. But Josh, I do want to let you chime in on this briefly. Tell me what your thoughts are in terms of legislation and where we can go next. You know I'll be honest, I'm not a huge expert in that area. That's why we hired Terry Coke for our lobbying efforts. But I will not answer your question. And I wanted to hit on a few things. You our angle you know just to clarify, is we're focused on large drones. We're not really focused on flying over our homes are worried about privacy concerns. We we want to get them out there because all these test sites that exist in the US they started with no infrastructure. We have so much infrastructure in the Gulf. And you know you're talking about tracking these drones making sure that FAQ is comfortable with them. Well you have so much infrastructure you put sensors on all the infrastructure to track the drones to make sure there were all these things just in an hour. Our guests are our long term goal is we've talked to the Port Commission in terrible parish. And I think our long term goal is to be an intermodal hub for Louisiana and the Gulf Coast because you have these large ships that I mean Edison West has the ability to control these ships remotely. A lot of them at least they have pirates or anything to try to take over them. They can remotely pilot them. So why not coordinate that with the drone and all these possibilities here because we have air, land, and sea. And I guess I'm just trying to promote our project. And I think we have something really special. We've heard from a lot of people in the industry that say they really haven't seen an organization as far as we've come. So I think we are on the cutting edge. And I definitely don't want to lose steam. You know if you ever bring this to because if we don't do it. You don't have a sense of urgency that our neighbors are going to get. And we're going to lose the apathy because we absolutely need to diversify the economy. But Thanks. Josh, I appreciate that. And I went after something you said you had something when you got airborne. You today. Congratulations on that. I want to thank you for joining us today. A definite look forward to having you back on the program and working with the two of us to try to thank you again for being here and he's been sort of disorders in next week for drugs in America by markets.