Posted by Adam Kaplan on November 17, 2009 at 9:01pm
Earlier tonight I had the pleasure of attending an AIAA seminar on Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System led by John Moore, a principal design engineer with Rockwell Collins.SC-203, a special committee requested by both the AOPA and the FAA, is currently drafting recommendations for policies that will "assure the safe operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) within the National Airspace System." A vast majority of the regulations SC-203 is in the process of drafting will concern large UAVs (> 55 lbs). Most, if not all, of the regulations levied at small UAVs (< 55 lbs), will be similar to the common-sense guidelines already in place for small amateur UAVs. While most of SC-203's recommendations are a ways off, Mr. Moore suggested that we could see concrete small UAV regulations in place by as soon as 2011.More info here:http://www.rtca.org/comm/Committee.cfm?id=45
RTCA in my estimation (and participation) is biased and years off from delivering anything substantive. The sUAS ARC recommendations and SFAR (Public statements) are estimated to roll out fall of 2012. And even that date may be wishful thinking! The lightly regulated subgroup of SC-203 was chaired by a fellow from ALPA (Airline Pilots Association) and hard over on the safety side. Hardly, a proponent of uncertified autopilots flying in the NAS. (National Airspace System) Most on the manned side see the notion as nothing more than crazy talk. As far as I know there are no small UAV regulations in place???
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