WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran says he wanted the nation’s top federal transportation official to see the importance of unmanned aerial vehicles to the Kansas economy.

The issue came up during an aviation forum Wednesday attended by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Fox told the state’s leading aviation leaders that while the government is on “a good path” when it comes to commercial use of drones, he is concerned about their private use. Foxx says officials are looking at strategies such as a possible registration system at the point of sale so that problem drones can be traced back to their owners.

Moran says drones are important to the Kansas economy with its aviation research centers and manufacturers. They also can be valuable for use by agriculture, utilities and rail transportation.