Drone FARs

The technology you have in your glass panel, smartphone and the tablet you use in the cockpit? It turns out the same hardware and software putting a blue dot on a moving map-and displaying an accurate artificial horizon-also can be used to operate a small, airborne robot: a drone. Formally known as an unmanned aircraft system, UAS, theyve grown in sophistication and utility to the point Congress in 2012 told the FAA to come up with a framework integrating them into the national airspace system.

Key Takeaways:

• The FAA has proposed new rules for integrating small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) into the national airspace, focusing on basic operating requirements, minimal operator certification, and aircraft registration.
• A primary concern is the risk of mid-air collisions with manned aircraft, with the FAA proposal relying on sUAS operators maintaining visual contact; however, experts question the effectiveness of "see and avoid" and the lack of robust data supporting this approach.
• There is a significant dearth of reliable data on sUAS populations and flight patterns, making statistical risk assessment difficult, but existing research suggests the overall mid-air collision risk with manned aircraft is statistically very low, though not zero.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.