Category Archives: Drones

Drones

Leaked FAA Document hints at limited drone regulations

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Leaked FAA Document Provides Glimpse Into Drone Regulations – Forbes.

Some restrictions, and operators would need to pass an FAA written exam only, to obtain unmanned aerial systems certification and to operate UAS craft pursuant to a new Part 107 of the FAA regulations. The written test would be based on the content of the Airman’s Information Manual (AIM) plus additional content regarding UAS.  Currently certified pilots of manned aircraft would also need to take the UAS certification exam, but it is expected this would require minimal study due to their knowledge of aviation.  UAS operators would also need to pass a security threat assessment by the TSA (required of all pilots already). Once that is done, the UAS pilot would receive a unmanned pilot’s certificate with UAS endorsement. For commercial use, an UAS craft would also require an FAA registration number ($5 fee).

The exam could be given by a designated pilot examiner, a certificated flight instructor, or others designated by the FAA. Examination would be required every 2 years.

Total estimated costs for the initial certification are estimated by the FAA at about $300 including exam fees and TSA threat assessment.

 

Drones

FAA issues “guidance” to have local law enforcement act against “drone” operators

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The FAA has issued a statement to local law enforcement on “guidance for suspected unauthorized UAS operations“.

The guidance notes that recreational model aircraft operations are mostly exempt from this directive but that any commercial operation of a radio controlled model aircraft must be done only by a licensed pilot, the aircraft must have an airworthiness certificate, a valid registration N- number and/or an FAA Certificate of Waiver Authorization.

Specifically, local police are encouraged to “stop and talk” to “suspected violators” (which means anyone with a radio controlled airplane) – stepping into a zone of potential intimidation and harassment to thwart the use of radio control model aircraft in the U.S.

The FAA is seeking to have local police enforce Federal rules and regulations through detection and using methods to deter UAS operation, and if necessary, to investigate UAS usage including conducting witness interviews and collecting evidence against operators (which implies that the unspecified methods to “deter” include intimidation and harassment.)

Letter – FAA_UAS-PO_LEA_Guidance.pdf.

As many are aware, small radio controlled model aircraft are a popular platform for shooting aerial photos and videos. Radio controlled model aircraft have been flown by hobbyists for many decades. Even the use of model airplanes for picture taking has been done for a very long time.

Note: The FAA has defined aircraft so broadly as to now include kites, balloons on strings, and some paper airplanes (see page 2).

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Drones

UAS Fund Files FAA Petition for Rulemaking on “Micro” Drones

A hawk stuck in the nosecone of a C-130
A hawk stuck in the nosecone of a C-130 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

UAS America Fund Files FAA Petition for Rulemaking on “Micro” Drones – DRONELIFE.

Main points – they hired expert from Exponent Engineering (formerly Failure  Analysis Associates) who evaluated bird strike – aircraft data and finds small r/c aircraft are a minimal threat to aircraft based on the FAA’s own data. (The US Airways flight that landed in the Hudson River ingested a flock of birds, not a single bird.)

I jog past an airport that is routinely crossed by huge flocks of Canada geese and other large water fowl. There are flights of flocks with hundreds to a thousand or more birds that go across the airport and across the final approach course.

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