UAVs and VLJs will challenge FAA, according to House Aviation Subcommittee witnesses. "FAA estimates that if two percent of airline passengers switch to VLJs, air traffic controllers will have to handle three times more take-offs and landings," said GAO's Gerald Dillingham. "If this sector expands as quickly as expected, FAA inspectors could face further workload challenges..and... controllers could face the challenge of further congested air space, especially at smaller airports." The DOT Inspector General expressed concern about the influx of new pilots using VLJs, calling for a new training standard.

Dillingham also cited UAVs and commercial space transportation as other emerging sectors that will add to FAA's workload and require additional expertise. The FAA created a new organization within FAA's Aircraft Certification Service tasked with developing rules to ensure that operation of UAVs does not compromise the safety of the NAS. The number of UAVs has risen dramatically in the last several years beyond their former military use to search and rescue and border patrol. As of June 2006, FAA had issued 55 certificates to operate UAVs this year alone; last year the Agency issued 50 certificates.