New Rule Would Require Reporting UAV Accidents/Incidents

Perhaps in response to the rogue Navy UAV helicopter incident on August 2, a new rule was published on Aug. 25 in the Federal Register that would require reporting accidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The rule has conditions similar to those for manned aircraft — an accident would consist of any occurrence in which a person was killed or seriously injured, or in which an aircraft sustained substantial damage. The rule would apply to UAVs with maximum takeoff weights of 300 pounds or more.