The bill focuses on leveraging NASA-developed tools and technologies to improve aerial responses to wildfires. It outlines goals including advanced aircraft technologies, airspace management, information sharing, and a multi-agency concept of operations. The Administrator must collaborate with various agencies, but unmanned aircraft systems cannot be procured from covered foreign entities, unless it serves the national interest and is necessary for wildfire responses. Annual reports detailing research, collaboration activities, identified areas for further research, and ongoing efforts are mandated. The bill defines terms like "Administrator", "covered foreign entity", "NASA", and "unmanned aircraft system".
Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations Act or the ACERO Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project. The ACERO project conducts research and development activities regarding aerial response to wildfires using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and other advanced aviation technologies. It is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The bill directs the ACERO project to address airspace management and deconfliction during wildfire response efforts, including through real-time information sharing among response teams and the development of a platform to provide situational awareness of aerial assets. The bill also directs the ACERO project to establish a multiagency concept of operations to facilitate the coordination of aerial wildfire response among federal, state, and local government agencies. NASA must consult with other federal agencies and departments to avoid duplication of these efforts.
NASA generally may not procure UAS manufactured or assembled by specified foreign entities, including entities domiciled in or controlled by China, for use by the ACERO project.
