Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System

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Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National
Airspace System

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What is UAS?

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) historically
  called by various terms
• Drone/ROA/RPV/UAV/Model/R-C
• Includes
• Unmanned Aircraft (UA)
• Aircraft Control Station
• Command Control Link/s
• Operated or flown by a pilot

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Who is Operating in the National Airspace System

• Public Use Aircraft
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Defense
• Department of Interior
• Department of Justice
• NASA
• State Universities
• State Law Enforcement

• Civil Aircraft
• General Atomics Altair Issued August 25, 2005
• Bell-Textron Eagle Eye Issued December 1, 2005
• General Atomics Altair Issued August 23, 2006
• Raytheon Cobra Issued September 29, 2006

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UAS Operations in the NAS

• Within Segregated Special Use Airspace
• Includes Restricted, Warning Areas and Prohibited
  areas
• Excludes Military Operating Areas, Air Traffic
  Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA), Alert Areas
  and Controlled Firing Areas
• In non-segregated airspace
• Public UAS through Certificate of
  Authorization (COA) process
• Civil UAS using experimental airworthiness
  certification process
• Model aircraft Advisory Circular 91-57, June
  1981, guidance
• Goal ensuring no harm to other NAS customers
  and public

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UAS Two Methods to Gain Access

• Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA)
• Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Process
• Public Aircraft Operators
• Based on ability to Self-Certify
• Special Airworthiness Certificate Experimental
  Category
• Flight Standards and Airworthiness Process
• Civil Aircraft Operators
• Anything other than Public

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UAS Policy Guidance

• FAAs AVS Organization (Flight Standards)
  developed an internal UAS policy in support the
  assessment of proposed operations.
• Policy conditions and limitations

• General limitations and conditions
• Definitions
• Airworthiness certification
• Chase aircraft
• Communications
• Dropping objects/Hazardous material
• Flight above FL180
• Flight below FL180

• Flight over congested areas
• Lost link
• Onboard cameras/sensors
• Pilot/observer medical standards
• Pilot qualifications
• Pilot responsibilities
• Pilot/observer limitations
• Observer qualifications and responsibilities

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UAS Challenges

• Ensuring safety of the NAS
• For all users and public on the ground
• Safety impacts
• Inherent low visibility of many UAS aircraft -
  more difficult to visually detect
• Increased time between detection and avoidance
• UAS aircraft performance limits in collision
  avoidance
• Developing aviation standards, operational
  procedures, and separation standards for an
  industry already in operation.

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A Safe NAS for All
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