Briefing: July 2015

More than 4400 comments were filed in response to the FAAs proposed rule for allowing small unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system, and the general aviation advocacy groups had their say. EAA, AOPA, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association all said the FAA should lower the ceiling for small UAS operations to 400 feet, instead of the proposed 500 feet, to provide a bigger buffer between UAS and manned aircraft. Other suggestions included requiring UAS to automatically terminate flight if communications are lost, and ensuring that the operators of manned aircraft arent required to add new equipment as a result of UAS integration. The FAA will now review the comments before publishing a final rule, which is expected to take up to 18 months.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

General aviation groups submitted comments on the FAA's proposed UAS rule, advocating for a 400-foot ceiling for small drones and no new equipment requirements for manned aircraft.
Cessna has temporarily paused development of its diesel-powered Turbo Skylane JT-A 182, resuming avgas 182T production, while its diesel Skyhawk 172 project remains on track.
Overall general aviation aircraft deliveries declined by 15% in the first quarter of 2015 across all segments, attributed partly to U.S. export rules.
New jets from Pilatus (PC-24 twinjet) and Gulfstream (G500 business jet) successfully completed their maiden flights in May.

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GA Groups Weigh In On UAS Rule Proposal

More than 4400 comments were filed in response to the FAA’s proposed rule for allowing small unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system, and the general aviation advocacy groups had their say. EAA, AOPA, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association all said the FAA should lower the ceiling for small UAS operations to 400 feet, instead of the proposed 500 feet, to provide a bigger buffer between UAS and manned aircraft. Other suggestions included requiring UAS to automatically terminate flight if communications are lost, and ensuring that the operators of manned aircraft aren’t required to add new equipment as a result of UAS integration. The FAA will now review the comments before publishing a final rule, which is expected to take up to 18 months.