The aviation community has issued a unified call to Congress to end the ongoing federal government shutdown, now stretching into its sixth week. In a joint statement released November 6 by the Modern Skies Coalition, more than 40 leading aviation organizations, including the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), warned that the prolonged disruption has reached “unacceptable levels of stress and disruption” across the national aviation system.
“The Aviation Community Stands United”
“The aviation community stands united in calling on Congress to end the shutdown without delay,” the coalition wrote in its letter addressed to congressional leaders. “This prolonged shutdown has strained the aviation system and its dedicated workforce to unacceptable levels of stress and disruption. The American flying public deserves nothing less than a fully operational aviation system. It’s time for Congress to act decisively.”
The coalition represents every major segment of the aviation sector, from airlines, airports, and air traffic controllers to business and general aviation, travel associations, and the UAS industry. Members include the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Airports Council International–North America, Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), and Vertical Aviation International, among others. For the UAS community, AUVSI’s inclusion underscores that drone operations are increasingly intertwined with the broader National Airspace System (NAS).
FAA Warns of Flight Cancellations at 40 Airports
The statement follows new warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the agency will begin reducing flights by as much as 10 percent at 40 major U.S. airports beginning this week if the shutdown continues. The measure, aimed at maintaining safety amid staffing shortages and fatigue among unpaid air traffic controllers, would mark the largest coordinated curtailment of commercial flight operations in decades.
As of Thursday, major hubs including New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Los Angeles International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, and Dallas-Fort Worth are among those listed for initial reductions. The move underscores the FAA’s effort to balance limited manpower with the imperative to maintain operational safety.
Impacts on the Drone and Advanced Aviation Sectors
While much of the shutdown’s immediate attention has focused on commercial airline operations, drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) stakeholders are feeling indirect effects. The FAA’s UAS Integration Office, responsible for authorizations, waivers, and testing programs, has curtailed activities, delaying processing times for both commercial and public-safety drone operations.
Industry observers note that extended shutdowns also stall progress on initiatives critical to future UAS expansion, including the rulemaking process for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and continued investment in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems. With modernization funding frozen and personnel furloughed or unpaid, coordination between government and private-sector innovation has slowed significantly.
For public-safety and infrastructure operators that rely on timely FAA coordination, such as those participating in Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, the uncertainty creates real-world impacts. Agencies planning missions that require airspace approvals or coordination with manned aviation are facing increasing delays.
The Broader Message: Aviation Safety at Risk
The Modern Skies Coalition’s letter reflects a rare moment of unanimity across the aviation ecosystem, bringing together legacy carriers, general aviation, rotorcraft operators, and drone advocacy groups around a single message: the longer the shutdown persists, the greater the erosion of safety and system resilience.
By urging immediate legislative action, the coalition highlights that the NAS functions as a tightly interdependent system, one where any degradation in staffing, training, or coordination affects both manned and unmanned operations.
With the shutdown entering its sixth week and the FAA preparing to scale back operations at dozens of airports, the Modern Skies Coalition’s call adds pressure on lawmakers to restore funding and stability. For AUVSI and the UAS community, the message is equally clear: ensuring a fully operational aviation system is essential not only for passengers and pilots, but for the continued safe integration of drones and emerging autonomous technologies into U.S. airspace.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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