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 national airspace, focusing on basic operational requirements, minimal operator certification, and aircraft registration, aiming for shared airspace with manned aircraft.
• A key safety concern is the sUAS operator's ability to "see and avoid" manned aircraft, a concept that experts and research suggest is largely ineffective and offers limited collision prevention.
• Despite increasing sUAS sightings, there's a significant lack of reliable data to accurately assess collision risk, with expert opinions suggesting the actual mid-air risk, while not zero, is statistically low and primarily driven by random chance.

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

See a mistake? Contact us.