Federal AviationAdministration
Presented to: Airports Consultant Council
Technical Workshop
Presented by: Victoria Wei, Deputy Director
Airport Planning and Programming
Date: July 16, 2015
Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS)
UAS 101
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1012
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
FAA Vision for UAS Integration
Safe, Efficient, and Timely integration of UAS into the national airspace
Because safety is the FAA’s primary
missionSAFE
EFFICIENT
TIMELYFAA is dedicated to supporting this exciting
new technology
FAA is committed to reduce delays and
increase system reliability
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1013
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
What are UAS?• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
have been referred to by various terms over the years:
– Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
– Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)
– Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs)
– Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROAs)
– Drones
– Model or Radio-Controlled Aircraft
• FAA defines UAS as a system:
− Unmanned Aircraft (UA)
− Aircraft Control Station
− Command & Control Links
− Pilot
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1014
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Where are UAS Operating?
• UAS are operated in most classes of airspace
• Flight over populated areas must be approved on a
case-by-case basis
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1015
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Who is Operating UAS in the
National Airspace System (NAS)?
Public (Governmental) Use Aircraft – via Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA)
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Energy
• Department of Homeland Security
• Department of Interior
• Department of Justice
• NASA
• State Universities
• Federal/State/Local Law Enforcement
Civil Aircraft – via Special Airworthiness Certificates in the Experimental Category and Special Flight Permits
• Insitu
• Aerovironment
• Raytheon
• AAI Corporation
• General Atomics
• Boeing
• Others
Civil Aircraft – via Section 333 Exemption and COA for Limited, Low-Risk Commercial Operations
• Television/Movie Filming
• Precision and Aerial Survey
• Flare Stack Inspection
• Construction Monitoring
• Agriculture
• Real Estate
• Utility Inspection
• Infrastructure Inspection
• Roof Inspection
• Surface Mining
• Others
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1016
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
UAS Test Sites• University of Alaska
• Operational May 5, 2014
• State of Nevada• Operational June 9, 2014
• New York Griffiss International
Airport• Operational August 7, 2014
• North Dakota Department of
Commerce• Operational April 21, 2014
• Texas A&M University –
Corpus Christi• Operational June 20, 2014
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University (Virginia
Tech)• Operational August 13, 2014
Program scheduled to expire
February 14, 2017http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/test_sites/
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1017
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Potential Areas for Section 333
FILMING | POWER LINE INSPECTION | PRECISION AGRICULTURE | FLARE STACK INSPECTION
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1018
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Petitions for Section 333 Exemption
• Required by Section 333 of the FMRA
• Bridge for commercial UAS operations
before finalization of small UAS rule
• More than 2,400 petitions received to date;
more than 800 exemptions granted*
• FAA responded by improving process:– Streamlined Blanket COA (March 23)
• Under 200’, within visual line of sight, during daylight hours,
certain distances away from airports and heliports
– Streamlined evaluation process (March 30)
http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/
*as of July 10
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 1019
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Section 333 Operators – Partial List
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10110
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Proposed Small UAS Rule
• Currently in DRAFT
– Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) Published to Federal
Register on February 23, 2015
– Public comment period
concluded on April 24, 2015
• Produced approximately 4,500
public comments
• Small commercial UAS
projected to be largest
growth sector
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10111
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Proposed Small UAS Rule:
Major Provisions
• Must see and avoid manned aircraft– UAS must be first to maneuver away if collision risk arises
• Must discontinue flight in event of presenting a hazard to other aircraft, people or property
• Must assess risks presented by: – Weather conditions
– Airspace restrictions
– Location of people
• May not fly over people, except those directly involved with the operation
• Flights limited to:– 500 feet altitude
– 100 mph
• Must avoid airport flight paths and restricted airspace areas
• Must obey any FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10112
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Focus Area Pathfinder Overview
• Announced at AUVSI May 2015
• Purpose: Identify the safety mitigations that can lead to
expanded access for UAS and inform future rulemaking
• Approach: Work with industry partners to gain operational
approval for key UAS operations and establish a repeatable
process
sUAS rule
EVLOS
BVLOSPopulation
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10113
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
New World for Recreational Aircraft
• Model aircraft have been around for decades, but there are new entrants into the recreational community– These types of aircraft may be
purchased at a hobby shop or online for a few hundred dollars
– Many of these new recreational operators do not have aviation experience, and may not know FAA model aircraft guidelines (AC 91-57):
• Stay below 400 ft.
• Avoid manned aircraft
• Operate during daylight hours
• Remain within visual line of sight
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10114
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
• FAA published guidance after incidents involving the reckless use of unmanned model aircraft near airports and involving large crowds of people
• FAA issued the notice to provide clear guidance to model operators on the “do’s and don’ts” of flying safely in accordance with the 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act and to answer questions regarding the scope and application of the rules
• Clarifies:1. Model aircraft must satisfy the criteria in the Act to qualify as model aircraft
and to be exempt from future FAA rulemaking action
2. Consistent with the Act, if a model aircraft operator endangers the safety of the NAS, the FAA has the authority to take enforcement action against those operators for safety violations
• Posted to Federal Register on June 23, 2014; public comment period produced more than 30,000 comments
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/25/2014-14948/interpretation-of-the-special-rule-for-model-aircraft
Interpretive Rule
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10115
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
• Notice to Aviation Inspectors issued July 2014– Stresses education as primary approach vs. enforcement
• Compliance and Enforcement Bulletin published January 2015 – Defines authorized vs. unauthorized operations
– Outlines actions for violators
• Enforcement may be used for persons who operate any UAS :– In violation of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
– In a manner that endangers the safety of the NAS or people and property on the ground
• Additional enforcement tools include:– Warning notices, letters of correction, civil penalties
Education, Compliance and Enforcement
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10116
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Know Before You Fly Campaign
• Announced December 22, 2014– Provides prospective UAS users with information and guidance to
fly safely and responsibly
– Founding members: AUVSI, Academy of Model Aeronautics
(AMA) and the Small UAV Coalition
• FAA reached voluntary agreement with UAS
manufacturers to include guidance materials
in packaging− DJI, Parrot and Yuneec Electrical Aviation
www.knowbeforeyoufly.org
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10117
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
B4UFLY Mobile App
• Announced at AUVSI Unmanned Systems 2015 on May 6
• Designed to provide model aircraft situational awareness of any restrictions or requirements prior to flight
• Limited beta test planned for
this summer– Up to 1,000 users
– Will last several months, then
available to general public
– iOS version only
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10118
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
B4UFLY Mobile App Features
• A clear “status” indicator that immediately informs the operator about their current or planned location
• Information on the parameters that drive the status indicator
• A “Planner Mode” for future flights in different locations
• Informative, interactive maps with filtering options
• Links to other FAA UAS resources and regulatory information
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10119
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Law Enforcement Guidance
• Role of state and local law enforcement
– Best position to respond quickly to public safety
issues
– Front line in detecting/reporting UAS violations
– Generally in the best position to capture evidence
and identify witnesses
– Public interest best served by coordination and
cooperation between FAA and state/local law
enforcement
http://www.faa.gov/uas/law_enforcement/
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10120
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
UAS Center of Excellence
• Award announced May 8: Alliance for System Safety through Research Excellence (ASSURE) – Team led by Mississippi State University
• Focus: research, education and training in areas critical to safe and successful integration of UAS into the NAS
• Expected to begin research by September 2015 and be fully operational by January 2016
• $5 million appropriated by Congress (5 years); will be matched one-by-one by team
• Expected to perform any required flight testing at one or more of the six Congressionally-mandated Test Sites
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10121
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Regulatory Issues and Airports
• FAA Office of Airports may have to consider modifications
to current regulations to conform to other regulations that
have been developed or modified in response to the FAA
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and any future
reauthorization/legislation.
• For example, potential impacts might include: Modifications to Part 139 and related policy.
Modifications to Part 77 and related policy.
Other modifications to existing regulations and additional
regulations affecting airport operations.
Implementation of Safety Management Systems.
Environmental impact, noise, emissions, unique fuel
requirements, and associated requirements of UAS operators.
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10122
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Airspace Issues and Airports
• The Air Traffic Organization is considering operational
procedures to account for UAS operations of all different
types to ensure safe separation of UAS from manned
aircraft.
• This could impact:
Protection of Part 77, TERPS, and AC 150/5300-13A
surfaces from unwarranted intrusion.
Integration of UAS into existing ATC operations and
airport traffic patterns.
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10123
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Control Issues
• Airport/UAS compatibility.
• Security and access control.
• Access to AOA and Movement Areas by UAS operators.
• Communications between UAS operator, airport staff,
and/or air traffic control tower staff.
• Frequency coverage and control.
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10124
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Airport Planning, Financial, and Compliance Issues
• Potential modifications to the definitions of aeronautical
activity.
• Potential ramifications for emergency response.
• Potential changes in training needs for airport personnel.
• Potential impacts to facility requirements
• Airport grant assurances related to preserving safety, access
and utility.
• Changes in costs and potential revenues for airports.
• Questions about eligibility for AIP or PFC funds for facilities
that support UAS operators.
(cont’d)
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10125
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Airport Planning, Financial, and Compliance Issues
• Potential to significantly shift activity types and levels.
• Data collection—e.g., at what point (and for what types of
UAS) do we start to consider UAS to be based aircraft—and
what types of UAS operations can be counted as “operations”?
• Public relations and communications.
Federal AviationAdministration
UAS Integration Office – UAS 10126
www.faa.gov/uasJuly 2015
Questions?
www.faa.gov/UAS