Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration · Presented to: Georgia Airports Association Annual Conference Presented by: Mike Wilson UAS Program Manager FAA Southern Region Date:

Presented to:

Georgia Airports Association Annual

Conference

Presented by: Mike Wilson

UAS Program Manager

FAA Southern Region

Date: October 2016

Unmanned Aircraft

Systems (UAS)

Integration

Small UAS Rule Overview

Federal AviationAdministration


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A quick history lesson…

• 2008: FAA seeks incorporation of sUAS into NAS.

• Feb 2012: Congress passes FAA Modernization

and Reform Act of 2012 (PL 112-95).

• Dec 2013: FAA names 6 UAS test sites

• June 2014: FAA issues Interpretation of the

Special Rule for Model Aircraft

• Feb 2015: FAA issues sUAS NPRM.

• May 2015: FAA starts Pathfinders initiative

• Sept 2015: FAA issues AC 91-57A for model a/c

• June 2016: FAA releases/publishes Part 107

• August 29, 2016: Effective Date of Part 107



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UAS: Friend or Foe?

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The Challenge



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A Landmark Rule

Publication

First U.S. Regulation for UAS Operations

…and will address a lot of pent-up demand for commercial

operators….

But the Work is Not Finished



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Commercial use of UAS under Part 107

FILMING | POWER LINE INSPECTION | PRECISION AGRICULTURE | FLARE STACK INSPECTION



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The Enterprise-Wide Communication Effort

Far Reaching Impact

General Public

Congress

FAA EmployeesTribal Governments

Remote Pilots

Aviation Community

FAASTeam

AFS

AEE

AGI

AOC

AUS

One FAA Voice



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UAS in Lawmaking

• Four states - Florida, Idaho, Montana and Virginia have already

passed laws to control the use of drones by law enforcement.

• FL, ID, an MT: Barred police from using drones without a

warrant in most cases

• Virginia has barred their use by law enforcement (with

exceptions) for two years.

• According to a tally by the American Civil Liberties Union, legislation

to limit drone use has been proposed in 41 states and remains

active in 32 states.

11



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Model Aircraft Operations

PL 112-95 Section 336 states that in order to be considered a model aircraft the operator must:

– Fly for hobby/recreation only

– Operate in accordance with a community based organization’s safety guidelines

– Give way to manned aircraft at all times– Notify the airport and control tower if

flying within 5 miles of the airport

For additional guidance, please visit http://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/fly_for_fun/ and www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

Part 107 does not apply!

http://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft

http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.org/



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Public Operators

• Can still obtain COAs

– Must be “N-Registered”

– Must get certification from

Attorney General or

similar that function is

inherently governmental

– COA limited to a certain

geographic area

• Can elect to operate

IAW Part 107



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Section 333 Exemptions

• Was the “interim bridge” between PL 112-

95 and Part 107 for civil use.

• Still in effect today and until the exemption

expires.

• 90% of current 333 holders will be able to

operate under Part 107 without waiver or

exemption.

• Majority of remainder will be able to operate

with waiver. Few will require exemption.



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The Basics

• UAS operators must obtain

a Remote Pilot Certificate

• Visual line-of-sight, daylight

operations

• 400 feet or below in

uncontrolled (Class G)

airspace

• UAS must weigh less than

55 lbs. and be registered



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Operating Rules

• Visual line-of-sight only

• Daylight or civil twilight only

• No operations over people

• Must yield right-of-way to

manned aircraft

• One UAS per operator

• Max groundspeed of 100 mph

• External load operation only

permitted if they do not affect

flight operations or control



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The Objective

Allow Remote Pilots to safely

operate in controlled airspace



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Waivable Rules under Part 107

• Operation from a moving vehicle or aircraft (§ 107.25)

• Daylight operation (§ 107.29)

• Visual line of sight aircraft operation (§ 107.31)

• Visual observer (§ 107.33)

• Operation of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems (§

107.35)

• Yielding the right of way (§ 107.37(a))

• Operation over people (§ 107.39)

• Operation in certain airspace (§ 107.41)

• Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft

(§ 107.51)



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12,245 12,517 12,756 13,003 13,462

4,009 3,981 3,992 4,009 4,035

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

27-Sep 28-Sep 29-Sep 30-Sep 1/3-Oct

Remote Pilot Applications (cumulative)

Completed In Process

6,758 6,926 7,135 7,203 7,513

886 910 941 945 984

0

5,000

10,000

Remote Pilot Knowledge Test (cumulative)

Passed Failed

Class B168

Class C258

Class D564

Class E Surface

152

Airspace Authorization Requests (cumulative)

65%46%

26%13%13%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Night Operations

BVLOS Operations

Operations from a…

Top 5 Waiver Requests

Total Passed: 7,513 Success

Rate: 88%

Waiver/Authorization

Processing

Total Issued Issued This Week In Queue

Tier 2 Section 333 Petitions 79 0 9 (RFIs pending)

Part 107 Waiver Portal

Requests

9 9 675

Airspace Authorization

Requests

4 4 1,138

Total: 17,497

Total Received:

1,142

Total Received:

684



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Focus Area Pathfinders – Expanding

Operations

• 3 Focus Area Pathfinder Partners:

1. CNN

• Exploring visual line-of-sight operations

over people

2. Precision Hawk

• Exploring extended visual line-of-sight

operations in rural areas

3. BNSF Railways

• Exploring beyond visual line-of-sight

operations in rural areas



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UAS Detection Initiative• Growing concerns about potentially unsafe small

UAS operations

• The FAA co-leads an interagency group with DHS to

research UAS detection technology

• In October 2015, the FAA signed a CRDA with CACI

International to test its detection technology

• In May 2016, the FAA signed additional CRDAs with

Gryphon Sensors, LitEye, and Sensofusion



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UAS Center of Excellence

http://www.assureuas.org/

Associate Members

Core Team

http://www.assureuas.org/



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• Stakeholder committee recommended

regulatory framework for UAS operations over

people to FAA on April 1, 2016

• Report outlines four categories of small UAS

operations

– Defined primarily by level of risk of injury posed

• The FAA is considering these

recommendations and developing a

performance-based rule that would allow

operations over people under part 107

Operations Over People

Rulemaking



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Current Safety Concerns – Unsafe UAS Operations

• Reports from pilots in flight of UAS operations near airports/manned aircraft– Greater awareness has led to better reporting

– Each report is investigated and documented

• Reports of UAS flying during sporting events– TFR FDC NOTAM 4/3621 issued to restrict all aircraft operations

around major sporting events, stadiums seating 30,000 people

– TFR specifically cites UAS as aircraft

• Reports of UAS flying over wildfires– TFRs around West Coast wildfires restrict UAS operations

So what are we doing about this?



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UAS Outreach and Education



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Reporting Unsafe UAS Activity

• While flying or at the airport:

– Report the sighting to Air Traffic Control

• Note the location, altitude, and characteristics of the aircraft

• Anywhere else:

– Call local law enforcement

• The FAA has published guidance for law enforcement to help

them respond to unsafe UAS activity

• Be as detailed & specific as possible

– Location, altitude, direction, pictures, videos, etc.



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Public Inquiries

• Resources: www.faa.gov/uas;

www.faasafety.gov

• Contact info for general questions :

– [email protected]

– 844-FLY-MY-UAS: 12 operators and VRU tree

– Regional HQ or FSDO

• Registration questions:

– [email protected]

– 877-396-4636

http://www.faa.gov/uas

http://www.faasafety.gov/

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



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We’re In This Together!

Documents

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration · Presented to: Georgia Airports Association Annual Conference Presented by: Mike Wilson UAS Program Manager FAA Southern Region Date: