While most UAS operators were overjoyed at last August’s release of Part 107 governing drone use, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) says there is work yet to be done to safely integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System. In a critical audit on UAS operations released earlier this month, the OIG said the agency does not have a “fully developed risk-based process to oversee UAS operations, a key tool for focusing resources on a range of emerging risks, such as increased reports of UAS operating near airports.” Safety experts have believed for years that reducing the risk of a collision between a drone and a manned aircraft should remain as one of the FAA’s top priorities during the integration process.
DOT’s Office of Inspector General Critical of FAA’s Drone Oversight
Key Takeaways:
- The DOT's Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit found that the FAA lacks a fully developed, risk-based process for overseeing UAS operations, which is crucial for safely integrating drones into national airspace.
- The OIG highlighted key deficiencies including widespread drone altitude violations, challenges in identifying and enforcing against operators, insufficient training and guidance for FAA inspectors, and the absence of a centralized data and tracking system for drone activity.
- While the FAA claimed to have addressed some OIG recommendations through existing resources, the OIG remained unconvinced, questioning the agency's capacity to manage the rapidly growing drone fleet with current oversight programs and limited inspectors, thus leaving many recommendations "open and unresolved."
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