Tag - FAA

08Nov

FAA Targets UAS Violators for Enforcement

Pilots of unmanned aircraft who interfere with first responder efforts are now more likely to face serious civil penalties...even for first time offenses. Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released guidance (PDF) for agency personnel who handle possible drone violations. Now, all cases involving interference with first responder operations are referred to the FAA Chief Counsel’s office for possible enforcement action.  

Fines increase

In July 2016, Congress authorized the FAA to impose a civil penalty of not more than $20,000 for drone operators who deliberately or recklessly interfere with emergency response efforts. Under FAA guidance, inspectors generally use non-enforcement methods. For example, educating the operator can correct unintentional violations that arise from flawed systems, simple mistakes, or lack of understanding. However, given the potential for direct and immediate interference with potentially life-saving operations where minutes matter, offenders are now immediately considered for enforcement actions. Possible enforcement actions include: revocation or suspension of a pilot certificate and up to a $20,000 civil penalty per violation.  

The need for deterrence

Deterring interference with first responders is critical, particularly as drone use expands exponentially. When a drone enters an area, firefighting aircraft are required to suspend flights to avoid a possible mid-air collision. A drone flying over a crime scene or accident site can hamper police or medical aircraft operations. Ultimately, interference by a drone can cost lives. The FAA’s rules for flying unmanned aircraft are clear. Pilots can save themselves and others serious problems by following them to the letter. Don’t let your decision to fly cause someone else to die.
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01Oct

FAA Approves Nine New LAANC Service Providers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced nine new partners to its Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) initiative. LAANC is an innovative collaboration between the FAA and the drone industry. The initiative provides near real-time processing of airspace authorizations for Part 107 drone operators nationwide who fly in controlled airspace.  

LAANC Expands

Following the FAA’s successful prototype, the initiative was simultaneously opened to additional air traffic control facilities and to new industry partners. The five-month on-boarding process that began in April resulted in nine new LAANC partners. Those partners include: Aeronyde, Airbus, AiRXOS, Altitude Angel, Converge, DJI, KittyHawk, UASidekick and Unifly. The nine joined five companies – AirMap, Harris Corp., Project Wing, Skyward and Thales Group. All met the technical and legal requirements to provide LAANC Services.  

How it Works

LAANC uses airspace data, including UAS facility maps, which shows the maximum altitude around airports where the FAA may authorize operations under Part 107 in controlled airspace. Drone operators can interact with industry developed applications and obtain near real-time authorization from the FAA. LAANC, a foundation for developing the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management System (UTM),is now available at nearly 300 FAA air traffic facilities across the country, covering approximately 500 airports. Next year, from January 7 to February 8 and from July 8 to August 9, the FAA will accept applications from parties interested in becoming LAANC service providers. This is not a standard government acquisition; there is no Screening Information Request (SIR) or Request for Proposal (RFP) related to this effort. Interested parties can find information on the application process here.
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21Aug

FAA Warns Drone Flyers: Save a Life, Stay Away from Wildfires

If you fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire, you could get someone killed. That’s the stern warning the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. wildland fire agencies have for pilots of unmanned aircraft who interfere with fighting wildfires. Unauthorized drone flights are a serious risk to first responders and anyone in the fire’s path.  

Authorized missions only

Authorized drone missions by the proper authorities can yield valuable information to firefighters. Such missions help detect hotspots, chart a fire’s spread and the progress in controlling a blaze. But when an unauthorized drone is spotted, it may force all authorized helicopter and airplane operations to cease. Unauthorized drone flights create collision hazards to firefighting aircraft. They also distract pilots who are already operating in stressful and challenging conditions. Wildland fire agency reports give a sense of how a single errant drone can disrupt operations: “Drone spotted by pilot at eye level during [helicopter] bucket work… spotted a drone over fire. All helicopter operations shut down…UAS incursion stopped aerial firefighting assets… UAS intrusion into TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction). Helicopters disengaged from fire….” A disruption to any efforts to fight wildfires is incredibly dangerous...and simply not worth it.  

Disruptions can cost a life

“If you own a drone, DO NOT fly near or over a wildfire,” said Dan Elwell, FAA Acting Administrator. “It’s against the law, and firefighting aircraft could be grounded, disrupting time-critical firefighting efforts. Your hobby is not worth another person’s life.” “Most members of the public would never dream of standing in front of a fire engine to stop it from getting to a wildfire, but that’s essentially what they’re doing to aerial firefighting aircraft when they fly a drone over or near a wildfire,” said Jennifer Jones, spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. If unauthorized drone operations interfere with wildfire suppression, law enforcement, or emergency response efforts, those drone operators could face civil penalties that exceed $20,000 and potential criminal prosecution. Anyone who witnesses or has information about an unauthorized drone flight over or near a wildfire should immediately contact local law enforcement. Deterring interference with first responders, as well as giving way to other aircraft in the sky, becomes more important as drone use expands exponentially. The FAA’s rules for flying unmanned aircraft are clear: Keep your drone away from other aircraft operations, including aerial firefighting missions. You just might save someone’s life.
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18Jul

FAA Summer Webinar Series about Waivers Continues with Dark Night: Part I and II

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues its Summer Webinar Series with Dark Night Part I and Part II. These webinars are no-cost. Any drone operator who is interested in obtaining a daylight operations waiver (107.29) to conduct night-time operations is welcome to attend. Due to heavy demand, the FAA lifted capacity restrictions. Now, both registered and non-registered individuals are invited to login.  

Dark Night: Part I

Dark Night: Part I is on Tuesday, July 24 at 1 pm EST. Discussion centers around the unique challenges involved with operating at night. Additionally, the webinar aims to help operators understand how best to describe the proposed operation -- as is required in the Waiver Safety Explanation Guidelines (WSEG). The one-hour webinar includes time for attendees to ask FAA experts about the application process.  

Dark Night Part II

Dark Night: Part II is on Thursday, July 26 at 1 pm. The topics covered include questions 2-5 of the WSEG. The webinar runs for 30-minutes.  

Accessing the Webinar

The FAA's Summer Webinar Series is hosted entirely online through Adobe Connect. The FAA encourages attendees to login at least 15-minutes prior to the webinar. Those interested in attending can connect via two methods:
  1. Download the Adobe Connect smartphone app and click here. Select the "Enter as a Guest" option; provide a Name and click, "Enter Room".
  2. Officially register for the Summer Webinar Series, by clicking here.
Keep in mind, playback media requires flash. Check to ensure your device has the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. To submit questions to the FAA experts, ensure your microphone works. Participants can always refer to the Adobe Connect How-To guide (PDF). The Summer Series Webinars are free of charge.  

Future Webinars Include:

The FAA began the Summer Webinar Series to help drone operators submit better waiver requests. Each webinar is live and allows attendees to ask FAA experts waiver questions. Upcoming webinars, include: August 7 @ 1 pm EST The Good, The Bad, The Ugly - Using real examples, this session reviews the differences between a success and unsuccessful waiver application. August 21 @ 1 pm EST: Beyond Visual Line of Sight - Why is this so difficult to obtain? This episode focuses on the "holy grail" of waivers. September 4 @ 1 pm EST: Operating Limitations: Altitude - Learn how to fly above the 400' altitude ceiling with an operation limitation (altitude) waiver. September 18 @ 1 pm EST Operations Over People - Why are there so few approvals for this waiver? Session addresses the mitigation necessary to ensure an operation doesn't endanger people on the ground  

Past Webinars

Drone operators who missed previous sessions of the series are in luck. Operators can view each webinar via the FAA's official YouTube channel. Past webinars, include: Where is my Waiver - Find out what is involved in the waiver application process. Learn how to apply for what you really want. Risky Business - Successful waivers include detailed risk assessments. Learn how to identify hazards, assess the risk they pose to your operation and develop methods to reduce the identified risk. Just the Facts - The importance of good data to support your proposed operation and safety case is key to successfully applying for a waiver. Learn why Requests for Information positively support your application and what to do in your safety mitigation.
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22Jan

FAA Drone Registry Breaks 1 Million

Recently, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao, announced that the total number of drones registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) eclipsed one million. Chao made the announcement at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV. The 1 million registrants include 878,000 hobbyists and 122,000 commercial users. Hobbyists receive one identification number for all the drones they own. Commercial, public and other drones are individually registered. “The tremendous growth in drone registration reflects the fact that they are more than tools for commerce and trade. Drones can save lives, detect hazardous situations and assist with disaster recovery,” said Chao.  “The challenge is to remove unnecessary hurdles to enable the safe testing and integration of this technology into our country’s airspace.”  

FAA drone registry

Once again, drone registration with the FAA is mandatory for hobbyist and recreational operators. On Dec. 12, President Donald Trump signed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, which applies primarily to defense funding. However, it also included a measure reinstating the requirement for hobbyists to register drones with the FAA. Last May, a federal judge ruled that the agency exceeded its authority to regulate hobbyist and recreational drones, a category Congress specifically excluded. Currently, the FAA requires registration for drones weighing between .55 and 55 pounds for both commercial and recreational use. Hobbyists and other users whose drones meet these requirements can register using the FAA’s web-based registry system. Registration costs $5 and is valid for three years. Some unmanned aircraft must still be registered using the agency’s paper-based traditional aircraft registration system. Those who fail to register can face civil and criminal penalties, according to the agency.  

Education, an added benefit

Additionally, the registration process helps educate drone operators who may be entirely new to aviation. As drone registrants go through the process they also learn about and agree to the FAA's operating rules. Plus, registration helps increase airspace security by identifying drones with their owner. The agency also uses the registration database to push important safety messages to drone users.  
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12Jan

Drone Airborne Collision Report Released by FAA, ASSURE

Last October, a research team from the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) released a report on airborne collisions. At this time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is yet to definitively address drone collision concerns. Currently, several universities continue to conduct studies and collect data to help inform any future decisions by the FAA. The report by ASSURE concludes that drones that collide with large manned aircraft can cause more structural damage than birds of the same weight for a given impact speed. The FAA plans on using the research results to develop operational and collision risk mitigation requirements for drones.  

Choosing the aircraft

The research team began the study in FY 2016. The focus of the study was simple, answer the question: what happens when there is a collision between an sUAS and an airplane? Researchers determined the most like impact scenarios by reviewing the operational environments of both sUAS and manned aircraft. Based on this evaluation, the team selected the business and commercial aircraft as well as the sUAS for computer modeling and physical validation testing. The final selections included the characteristics of a Boeing B737 and an Airbus A320. These crafts represent 70% of today's commercial aircraft fleet. Characteristics of the Learjet 30/40/50 represented the business jet model. For the sUAS, the team chose a small quadcopter as well as a light fixed-wing UAV. Areas of a manned craft determined to most likely experience impact included: edges of wings, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and windscreens. The ASSURE team continues to conduct testing of engine impact scenarios. The findings will be released in the future.  

The impact results

Currently, commercial aircraft manufacturers design aircraft structural components to withstand bird strikes. Simulations by ASSURE demonstrate that sUAS of an equivalent size and speed of a bird strike inflicts more damage. And, whereas birds are mostly composed of water...drones are not. Testing showed that the stiffest components of the sUAS – such as the motor, battery and payload – cause the most damage. Concentrating those masses on the drone also increases the damage. The structural damage severity levels ranged from no damage to failure of the primary structure and penetration of the drone into the air-frame. However, the research specifically did not explore the risk to flight imposed by that damage. ASSURE researchers emphasized the importance of properly researching and regulating the use of sUAS in the increasingly crowded national airspace system. Safe sUAS operations were a point of emphasis. Adoption of  “detect and avoid” or “geo-fencing” capabilities by manufacturers are another way to reduce the probability of collisions. Read the entire report, here. In 2014 Congress directed the FAA to establish a UAS Center of Excellence. The FAA selected ASSURE, led by Mississippi State University, in May 2015.
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