unmanned aircraft federal aviation systems (uas) - wei.pdf1. model aircraft must satisfy the...

Federal AviationAdministration

Presented to: Airports Consultant Council

Technical Workshop

Presented by: Victoria Wei, Deputy Director

Airport Planning and Programming

Date: July 16, 2015

Unmanned Aircraft

Systems (UAS)

UAS 101


UAS Integration Office – UAS 1012

www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015

FAA Vision for UAS Integration

Safe, Efficient, and Timely integration of UAS into the national airspace

Because safety is the FAA’s primary

missionSAFE

EFFICIENT

TIMELYFAA is dedicated to supporting this exciting

new technology

FAA is committed to reduce delays and

increase system reliability




What are UAS?• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

have been referred to by various terms over the years:

– Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

– Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

– Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs)

– Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROAs)

– Drones

– Model or Radio-Controlled Aircraft

• FAA defines UAS as a system:

− Unmanned Aircraft (UA)

− Aircraft Control Station

− Command & Control Links

− Pilot




Where are UAS Operating?

• UAS are operated in most classes of airspace

• Flight over populated areas must be approved on a

case-by-case basis




Who is Operating UAS in the

National Airspace System (NAS)?

Public (Governmental) Use Aircraft – via Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA)

• Department of Agriculture

• Department of Commerce

• Department of Defense

• Department of Energy

• Department of Homeland Security

• Department of Interior

• Department of Justice

• NASA

• State Universities

• Federal/State/Local Law Enforcement

Civil Aircraft – via Special Airworthiness Certificates in the Experimental Category and Special Flight Permits

• Insitu

• Aerovironment

• Raytheon

• AAI Corporation

• General Atomics

• Boeing

• Others

Civil Aircraft – via Section 333 Exemption and COA for Limited, Low-Risk Commercial Operations

• Television/Movie Filming

• Precision and Aerial Survey

• Flare Stack Inspection

• Construction Monitoring

• Agriculture

• Real Estate

• Utility Inspection

• Infrastructure Inspection

• Roof Inspection

• Surface Mining

• Others




UAS Test Sites• University of Alaska

• Operational May 5, 2014

• State of Nevada• Operational June 9, 2014

• New York Griffiss International

Airport• Operational August 7, 2014

• North Dakota Department of

Commerce• Operational April 21, 2014

• Texas A&M University –

Corpus Christi• Operational June 20, 2014

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute

and State University (Virginia

Tech)• Operational August 13, 2014

Program scheduled to expire

February 14, 2017http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/test_sites/

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/test_sites/




Potential Areas for Section 333

FILMING | POWER LINE INSPECTION | PRECISION AGRICULTURE | FLARE STACK INSPECTION




Petitions for Section 333 Exemption

• Required by Section 333 of the FMRA

• Bridge for commercial UAS operations

before finalization of small UAS rule

• More than 2,400 petitions received to date;

more than 800 exemptions granted*

• FAA responded by improving process:– Streamlined Blanket COA (March 23)

• Under 200’, within visual line of sight, during daylight hours,

certain distances away from airports and heliports

– Streamlined evaluation process (March 30)

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/

*as of July 10

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/




Section 333 Operators – Partial List




Proposed Small UAS Rule

• Currently in DRAFT

– Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(NPRM) Published to Federal

Register on February 23, 2015

– Public comment period

concluded on April 24, 2015

• Produced approximately 4,500

public comments

• Small commercial UAS

projected to be largest

growth sector




Proposed Small UAS Rule:

Major Provisions

• Must see and avoid manned aircraft– UAS must be first to maneuver away if collision risk arises

• Must discontinue flight in event of presenting a hazard to other aircraft, people or property

• Must assess risks presented by: – Weather conditions

– Airspace restrictions

– Location of people

• May not fly over people, except those directly involved with the operation

• Flights limited to:– 500 feet altitude

– 100 mph

• Must avoid airport flight paths and restricted airspace areas

• Must obey any FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)




Focus Area Pathfinder Overview

• Announced at AUVSI May 2015

• Purpose: Identify the safety mitigations that can lead to

expanded access for UAS and inform future rulemaking

• Approach: Work with industry partners to gain operational

approval for key UAS operations and establish a repeatable

process

sUAS rule

EVLOS

BVLOSPopulation




New World for Recreational Aircraft

• Model aircraft have been around for decades, but there are new entrants into the recreational community– These types of aircraft may be

purchased at a hobby shop or online for a few hundred dollars

– Many of these new recreational operators do not have aviation experience, and may not know FAA model aircraft guidelines (AC 91-57):

• Stay below 400 ft.

• Avoid manned aircraft

• Operate during daylight hours

• Remain within visual line of sight




• FAA published guidance after incidents involving the reckless use of unmanned model aircraft near airports and involving large crowds of people

• FAA issued the notice to provide clear guidance to model operators on the “do’s and don’ts” of flying safely in accordance with the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act and to answer questions regarding the scope and application of the rules

• Clarifies:1. Model aircraft must satisfy the criteria in the Act to qualify as model aircraft

and to be exempt from future FAA rulemaking action

2. Consistent with the Act, if a model aircraft operator endangers the safety of the NAS, the FAA has the authority to take enforcement action against those operators for safety violations

• Posted to Federal Register on June 23, 2014; public comment period produced more than 30,000 comments

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/25/2014-14948/interpretation-of-the-special-rule-for-model-aircraft

Interpretive Rule

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/25/2014-14948/interpretation-of-the-special-rule-for-model-aircraft




• Notice to Aviation Inspectors issued July 2014– Stresses education as primary approach vs. enforcement

• Compliance and Enforcement Bulletin published January 2015 – Defines authorized vs. unauthorized operations

– Outlines actions for violators

• Enforcement may be used for persons who operate any UAS :– In violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)

– In a manner that endangers the safety of the NAS or people and property on the ground

• Additional enforcement tools include:– Warning notices, letters of correction, civil penalties

Education, Compliance and Enforcement




Know Before You Fly Campaign

• Announced December 22, 2014– Provides prospective UAS users with information and guidance to

fly safely and responsibly

– Founding members: AUVSI, Academy of Model Aeronautics

(AMA) and the Small UAV Coalition

• FAA reached voluntary agreement with UAS

manufacturers to include guidance materials

in packaging− DJI, Parrot and Yuneec Electrical Aviation

www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.org/




B4UFLY Mobile App

• Announced at AUVSI Unmanned Systems 2015 on May 6

• Designed to provide model aircraft situational awareness of any restrictions or requirements prior to flight

• Limited beta test planned for

this summer– Up to 1,000 users

– Will last several months, then

available to general public

– iOS version only




B4UFLY Mobile App Features

• A clear “status” indicator that immediately informs the operator about their current or planned location

• Information on the parameters that drive the status indicator

• A “Planner Mode” for future flights in different locations

• Informative, interactive maps with filtering options

• Links to other FAA UAS resources and regulatory information




Law Enforcement Guidance

• Role of state and local law enforcement

– Best position to respond quickly to public safety

issues

– Front line in detecting/reporting UAS violations

– Generally in the best position to capture evidence

and identify witnesses

– Public interest best served by coordination and

cooperation between FAA and state/local law

enforcement

http://www.faa.gov/uas/law_enforcement/

http://www.faa.gov/uas/law_enforcement/




UAS Center of Excellence

• Award announced May 8: Alliance for System Safety through Research Excellence (ASSURE) – Team led by Mississippi State University

• Focus: research, education and training in areas critical to safe and successful integration of UAS into the NAS

• Expected to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational by January 2016

• $5 million appropriated by Congress (5 years); will be matched one-by-one by team

• Expected to perform any required flight testing at one or more of the six Congressionally-mandated Test Sites




Regulatory Issues and Airports

• FAA Office of Airports may have to consider modifications

to current regulations to conform to other regulations that

have been developed or modified in response to the FAA

Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and any future

reauthorization/legislation.

• For example, potential impacts might include: Modifications to Part 139 and related policy.

Modifications to Part 77 and related policy.

Other modifications to existing regulations and additional

regulations affecting airport operations.

Implementation of Safety Management Systems.

Environmental impact, noise, emissions, unique fuel

requirements, and associated requirements of UAS operators.




Airspace Issues and Airports

• The Air Traffic Organization is considering operational

procedures to account for UAS operations of all different

types to ensure safe separation of UAS from manned

aircraft.

• This could impact:

Protection of Part 77, TERPS, and AC 150/5300-13A

surfaces from unwarranted intrusion.

Integration of UAS into existing ATC operations and

airport traffic patterns.




Control Issues

• Airport/UAS compatibility.

• Security and access control.

• Access to AOA and Movement Areas by UAS operators.

• Communications between UAS operator, airport staff,

and/or air traffic control tower staff.

• Frequency coverage and control.




Airport Planning, Financial, and Compliance Issues

• Potential modifications to the definitions of aeronautical

activity.

• Potential ramifications for emergency response.

• Potential changes in training needs for airport personnel.

• Potential impacts to facility requirements

• Airport grant assurances related to preserving safety, access

and utility.

• Changes in costs and potential revenues for airports.

• Questions about eligibility for AIP or PFC funds for facilities

that support UAS operators.

(cont’d)




Airport Planning, Financial, and Compliance Issues

• Potential to significantly shift activity types and levels.

• Data collection—e.g., at what point (and for what types of

UAS) do we start to consider UAS to be based aircraft—and

what types of UAS operations can be counted as “operations”?

• Public relations and communications.




Questions?

www.faa.gov/UAS

http://www.faa.gov/UAS

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