Federal AviationAdministration

Presented To: Small Unmanned Systems Business

Exposition

Presented By: Jim Williams, Manager,

FAA UAS Integration Office

Date: April 29, 2015

FAA Unmanned

Aircraft Systems

(UAS)

Update

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20152

www.faa.gov/uas

Getting Authorized to Fly Today

• Public aircraft operations – Local/state government, local law enforcement, first

responders, public universities

– Require Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA)

• Civil aircraft operations– Special Airworthiness Certificate

• Experimental Category

• Restricted Category/Type Certificate

– Section 333 Process

• Flights strictly for hobby/recreational purposes do not require authorization

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20153

www.faa.gov/uas

Petitions for Section 333 Exemption

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20154

www.faa.gov/uas

Petitions for Section 333 Exemption

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20155

www.faa.gov/uas

Section 333 Operators – Partial List

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20156

www.faa.gov/uas

Overwhelming Interest in Section 333

• More than 900 petitions received to date

• FAA responded by improving processes:

– 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)

*as of 4/17/15

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Sep '14 Oct '14 Nov '14 Dec '14 Jan '15 Feb '15 Mar '15 Apr '15

Number of 333 Exemptions Granted*

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20157

www.faa.gov/uas

How to Become a Section 333

Operator

• Step-by-step

instructions and all

relevant resources

on the FAA UAS

Website

• Direct questions to: 333exemptions@faa.gov

http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/how_to_file_a_petition/

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20158

www.faa.gov/uas

Proposed Small UAS Rule:

Major Provisions

• Major provisions of proposed Small UAS Rule (Part 107):– Operational Limitations

– Operator Certification and Responsibilities

– Aircraft Requirements

– Model Aircraft

• Small commercial UAS projected to be largest growth sector

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 20159

www.faa.gov/uas

Proposed Small UAS Rule:

Major Provisions (continued)

• 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

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201510

www.faa.gov/uas

Proposed Small UAS Rule:

Major Provisions (continued)

• 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

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201511

www.faa.gov/uas

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

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201512

www.faa.gov/uas

• FAA published guidance on June 23, 2014 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

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/06/25/2014-14948/interpretation-of-the-special-rule-for-model-aircraft

Interpretive Rule

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201513

www.faa.gov/uas

• 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

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201514

www.faa.gov/uas

Coming Attractions

Next Steps and a

New Approach

Join us at AUVSI in Atlanta,

May 4-6, for more details!

Federal AviationAdministration

FAA UAS Integration Office

April 29, 201515

www.faa.gov/uas

Questions?

www.FAA.gov/UAS