New Task Force to Develop Recommendations by November 20
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta today announced the creation of a task force to develop recommendations for a registration process for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
The task force will be composed of 25 to 30 diverse representatives from the UAS and manned aviation industries, the federal government, and other stakeholders. The group will advise the Department on which aircraft should be exempt from registration due to a low safety risk, including toys and certain other small UAS.
The task force also will explore options for a streamlined system that would make registration less burdensome for commercial UAS operators. The task force may make additional safety recommendations as it deems appropriate. Secretary Foxx directed the group to deliver its report by Nov. 20.
“Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation system,” Foxx said.
“It will help protect public safety in the air and on the ground.” Every day, the FAA receives reports of potentially unsafe UAS operations. Pilot sightings of UAS doubled between 2014 and 2015.
The reports ranged from incidents at major sporting events and flights near manned aircraft, to interference with wildfire operations.
“These reports signal a troubling trend,” Huerta said.
“Registration will help make sure that operators know the rules and remain accountable to the public for flying their unmanned aircraft responsibly. When they don’t fly safely, they’ll know there will be consequences.”
While the task force does its work, the FAA will continue its aggressive education and outreach efforts, including the “Know Before You Fly” campaign and “No Drone Zone” initiatives with the nation’s busiest airports.
The agency also will continue to take strong enforcement action against egregious violators. At the same time, it will continue working with stakeholders to improve safety to ensure further integration and innovation in this promising segment of aviation.
Secretary Foxx was joined by representatives from the following stakeholder groups:
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Academy of Model Aircraft Air Line Pilots Association American Association of Airport Executives Helicopter Association International PrecisionHawk AirMap/ Small UAV Coalition Consumer Electronics Association
Comments
Lance: I don't intend to create a political issue here, I'm just stating verifiable FACTS. Obama said that he intended to use REGULATION instead of laws to implement whatever he wants (much like a king).
Liar.
Philip: You are a voice of rational analysis in a sea of hysteria and hype. Good on ya' mate!
My issue with registration is that it is focussed on post incident blame.
If they spent the same amount of money on setting good rules and then a massive education program then you would not need to worry about post incident blame because there would be no or fewer incidents.
Registration is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
@Todd - Thank you.
BTW, if anyone is interested in getting a good sense of where the government and industry is headed in terms of new regulations and other changes, I'd recommend watching a few congressional hearings on cspan.org. Just search for "drone".
The great thing about these hearings is that thoughtful, expert testimony is given by representatives from many different sides: AMA, ALPA, FAA, academia, manufacturers, etc. You'll also notice that all of the experts have the same primary concerns. Namely, air safety (the #1 concern for all), along with allowing drone innovations and technological competitiveness to thrive.
The hearings may be boring to some but it's a great way to understand the serious discussions and considerations driving the changes for this industry and hobby.
@ Philip, well said!
There is a rising threat to manned aircraft due to a growing number of irresponsible and uneducated drone users who fly where they shouldn't. The evidence and consensus about this rising threat is overwhelming. This fact is not only damaging the reputation of the drone industry and drone pilots, but is also forcing the government to act.
Chris Anderson made the air safety threat crystal clear in his recent article about the rise of mass jackassery in the hobby drone.... As Chris stated in that article:
"[It's] bad and it's going to get worse. And if we don't do something about it, no one's been killed yet, but someone's going to do something really stupid."
So now it's up to the drone manufacturers, the government, and all of us drone pilots to work together to make and accept sensible changes to improve safety.
This new government regulation is a good first step, imo. It's aimed at increasing the awareness of drone owner responsibilities, many of whom have no idea how to fly or how to do so responsibly.
For those of us already flying safely per the AMA Code, the new registration requirement will have no impact on how we fly our drones. It is expected to contain wording similar to the existing AMA Code, along with an agreement to abide by those rules. This additional agreement should be no big deal for the responsible pilots here. We can continue flying just like we always have.
We are flying our drones in shared airspace. And since the number of hobby drones is skyrocketing, the societies we live in are starting to request changes aimed at enhancing the safety of the shared space. Yes, governments are way behind the technological curve. Yes, they're often too slow to respond. As a result, those changes are still evolving and will take more time to be fully worked out.
If you travel by air, this new regulation will benefit you and all the other passengers by reducing the chance of an air accident involving a drone. Is the chance of a drone air accident low? Yes. And it will be even lower if fewer jackass pilots are added to our ranks. Yes. And that's the government's worthy goal.
Things will get much uglier for this entire hobby if Chris Anderson's fears about an accident come true.
We each have a choice to become a part of the solution. For some hobbyists, a mindset shift seems to be needed in order to accept some of the inevitable changes we're about to see. This is just the first.
Hey FAA and DOT I have a novel idea, how about some broad spectrum PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS describing the common sense UAS, UAV, Drone, Commercial and hobby aircraft guidelines we already have in place like Know Before you Fly as an example with some examples of what could happen if you don't follow them.
Would this not be much less expensive then creating a huge new rushed expensive government bureaucracy to register a million Christmas Toys that might provide very limited results if any. Especially since a large portion of the FAA complaints are no more than hyped up UFO reports being blamed on drones by a great number of people that may have their own hidden agenda.
This is after all America. A great Nation where we innovate, design and create the greatest technology in the world.
Just leave your comments about it here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA-2015-4378-0001
It doesn't matter though. This is happening. I follow the rules so there will ,hopefully, be no restriction to what I've always done. My problem with the idea is the added cost. If it's $10 then it's no big deal. But this is the U.S. Government so I doubt it will be reasonable in cost or structure.
The other negative aspect here is the massive amount of negative publicity this is causing. People already look at you as though you are trying to spy on them when they see you flying a MR. Now they will also think you want to endanger passenger aircraft while spying on them.
All we can do at this point is hope the process isn't limiting our ability to fly with ridiculous height and distances restrictions.
It says in the blog that the government will make it "quick and easy" for UAS companies ($$$). Once again, our country is in the mess it's in because there are two groups who are represented, and they are NEVER represented EQUALLY like the Constitution intended. In short, they once again say "Individuals, you are screwed. Industry, how can we possibly make this any easier for you? Please deposit $$$$$$ in this pocket." And yet we continue to re-elect this trash. Which dynasty do we choose from this time? The Clinton's or the Bush's? "Thank you sir, may I have another? [KICK]. Thank you sir, may I have another? [KICK]..." And, once again, we accept what we are given. And, BTW, I don't support any party or any person. Not ONE of the current lot of pukes in the running right now is deserving of even a SINGLE vote. They have absolutely no humility, decency, and don't care ONE BIT about the ones who SHOULD be in power--the PEOPLE!!! Not industry, nor any other special interest group! Our country has finally played out. It no longer listens to its people! This is but one of MANY examples of that. I'm afraid I'll have to write in "Daffy Duck" this election. That's just how absurd it's gotten. What a joke--and it's not even a funny one.
And does anyone actually believe that "we the people" will get ANY benefit from this whatsoever? Will we be allowed above the precious 400 foot limit now? Will we be able to make a simple call to the FAA to let them know that we will be taking photos of crop land, or shooting video? If I want to do a parachute drop, erect a crane, put up an antenna or fly a glider in a particular area I can do that. But not a UAV.
And lastly, let's try to make some REAL sense out of this. With all this complaining we hear, how many people in an aircraft have actually been injured by UAS's? Zero, as far as I know. Now, how many people have actually been injured by a laser shined on an aircraft? I don't know the answer to that, but I am sure it's more than zero. And ANYONE can go on eBay and get a RIDICULOUSLY powerful laser and just wave it around the skies at night like an inconsiderate moron! SO WHEN CAN WE EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO REQUIRE ALL LASERS TO BE REGISTERED???!!!
It always goes this way with government, because they just don't have the capability to reason, apparently. When a small minority abuses something they ALWAYS react by punishing the INNOCENT. Why not punish the GUILTY? If the police are going to be hassling people flying a UAS (and don't you just LOVE trying to maintain control of an RC aircraft when someone is hassling you?) how about if they hassle the ones who are actually causing a problem!
Fight this! And if it does happen, and is a hassle, then protest it! Heck, start now. Write a LETTER to ALL your representatives (e-mail is ignored, MAIL is not). Write it with a PEN (typed and printed letters are ignored as form letters). Be polite, and tell them what you want. Suggest how they can best SERVE YOU if they would like to stay in office.
Personally, I might just pick random places to go out with nothing but a transceiver. Then just fiddle with the controls and enjoy the sky. If a cop hassles me I'll either hand them my transceiver (and enjoy the look on their face) or just leave. With nothing but a transceiver in hand (no UAS) nobody is in danger.
But you do what you choose. JUST BE POLITE ABOUT IT. Don't be stupid, like the ones who caused this.
Oh, good grief!!
The Consumer Electronics Association:
http://www.ce.org/News/News-Releases/Press-Releases/CEA-Any-DOT-Act...
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