The Hour Is Upon US! FAA To Divulge New sUAS Regulations Today (Sunday 2/15/2015)!

SleepyC

SleepyC

www.AirHeadMedia.com
Ok guys, from everything I can find on the web the FAA and DOT will release some new regulations today due to a leaked document! (FINGERS CROSSED!)

From www.AVweb.com:


The FAA and Department of Transportation will hold a rare Sunday morning news conference to release the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the use of small unmanned aerial systems in the National Airspace System (NAS). In an even more rare Saturday night statement, the agency outlined what to expect: "The rule is specifically aimed at increasing the routine use of small UAS for business purposes, and does not apply to model aircraft used for recreational purposes. We already have rules in place for that," the statement said. "The proposed rule includes operational limitations - such as daylight only operations, maintain a visual line of sight with the aircraft at all times and height restrictions."

The weekend scramble appears to be the result of the apparently unplanned posting of an internal review of the FAA's long-awaited rulemaking. The document (PDF) suggests the rule will allow affordable widespread commercial use of drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The document appears to have been posted by mistake and only for a few minutes on the FAA web site. Forbes blogger Gregory McNeal got hold of it, and it has since been repeated on numerous news sites. It gives an exhaustive analysis of the anticipated impact of the NPRM, but its principal message seems to be that small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) will be allowed in the NAS without onerous restrictions or requirements on the part of commercial users and that the cost of compliance for commercial users will only be about $300.

"This proposed rule would allow certain small UAS non-recreational (e.g. commercial) operations to operate within a regulatory framework by providing a safe operating environment for small unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds (25 kilograms)," the analysis reads. This proposed rule also addresses aircraft registration and marking, NAS operations,operator certification, the use of visual observers, and operational limits in order to maintain the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).

Based on the estimated cost of compliance, it would appear the rules won't be too tough. "The estimated out-of-pocket cost for a small UAS operator to be FAA-certified is less than $300," the analysis says. The analysis paints a picture of drones as an overall benefit to society. "As this proposal enables new businesses to be established, the private sector expected benefits exceed private sector expected costs when new entrepreneurs enter," it reads. The analysis also pegs the economic impact of drones at $100 million a year and that the rule would "have benefits that would justify its costs," including the use of drones in circumstances where manned aircraft can't operate.

The NPRM just starts the process of implementing the rules. Significant rules like this normally come with a 90-day comment period and there are likely to be thousands of comments, every one of which the FAA must take into consideration. It could be months or more likely years before the final rule is enacted.


Let's hope they make a rational decision this time, and if they do can we as a community do our best to make sure they see we are serious!!

BIG DAY!!!

You can read the FAA's PDF below...
 

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Old Man

Old Man

Active Member
Getting an ATT message there are no teleconferences on schedule at the call in number (800-230-1059) for the DOT brief. It's 07:02 Pacific, 10:02 Eastern. Anyone else doing any better?
 


Old Man

Old Man

Active Member
I've checked the number and time at 4 different sources, including the DOT and FAA sites, all have the same info. Seems somebody failed to set things up.
 

jfro

jfro

Aerial Fun
I read the pdf last night. Seems well written and has a fair amount of common sense. Why are so many people doubting it? Maybe it came out early, but it's dated Feb 2015.

Letterhead has:
U.S. Department of Transportation
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION

Which is the FAA. Don't think anybody is punking or spoofing us. It just maybe got out early. Let's wait and see. Let the optimism flow. Maybe (this country) is on a roll. After all, look like someone stepped up and is keeping the internet open and out of the money grabbers hands.
 


Old Man

Old Man

Active Member
Someone screwed the pooch with the following. 24 attempts from 06:59 Pacific to 07:51 Pacific have provided zero connections.

AA Home ▸ News ▸ Media Advisories
Media Advisory – DOT and FAA Announce New Rules for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
February 14, 2015

WHEN: 10 a.m., Sunday, February 15, 2015

WHO: Conference Call with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta

The call-in number for the call is (800) 230-1059. The operator will ask you what you're calling in for. Tell the operator you are calling in for the DOT Press Briefing. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end. To ask a question press
 

SleepyC

SleepyC

www.AirHeadMedia.com
Press Release – DOT and FAA Propose New Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2015
Contact: DOT Contact: Suzi Emmerling Phone: 202-365-1763 FAA Contact: Laura J Brown Phone: 202-359-3680

Regulations will facilitate integration of small UAS into U.S. aviation system
WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration today proposed a framework of regulations that would allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in today’s aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations.

The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds) conducting non-recreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits.

The proposed rule also includes extensive discussion of the possibility of an additional, more flexible framework for “micro” UAS under 4.4 pounds. The FAA is asking the public to comment on this possible classification to determine whether it should include this option as part of a final rule. The FAA is also asking for comment about how the agency can further leverage the UAS test site program and an upcoming UAS Center of Excellence to further spur innovation at “innovation zones.”

The public will be able to comment on the proposed regulation for 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register, which can be found at www.regulations.gov. Separate from this proposal, the FAA intends to hold public meetings to discuss innovation and opportunities at the test sites and Center of Excellence. These meetings will be announced in a future Federal Register notice.

“Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace and this milestone allows federal regulations and the use of our national airspace to evolve to safely accommodate innovation,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

The proposed rule would require an operator to maintain visual line of sight of a small UAS. The rule would allow, but not require, an operator to work with a visual observer who would maintain constant visual contact with the aircraft. The operator would still need to be able to see the UAS with unaided vision (except for glasses). The FAA is asking for comments on whether the rules should permit operations beyond line of sight, and if so, what the appropriate limits should be.

“We have tried to be flexible in writing these rules,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We want to maintain today’s outstanding level of aviation safety without placing an undue regulatory burden on an emerging industry.”

Under the proposed rule, the person actually flying a small UAS would be an “operator.” An operator would have to be at least 17 years old, pass an aeronautical knowledge test and obtain an FAA UAS operator certificate. To maintain certification, the operator would have to pass the FAA knowledge tests every 24 months. A small UAS operator would not need any further private pilot certifications (i.e., a private pilot license or medical rating).

The new rule also proposes operating limitations designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground:

  • A small UAS operator must always see and avoid manned aircraft. If there is a risk of collision, the UAS operator must be the first to maneuver away.
  • The operator must discontinue the flight when continuing would pose a hazard to other aircraft, people or property.
  • A small UAS operator must assess weather conditions, airspace restrictions and the location of people to lessen risks if he or she loses control of the UAS.
  • A small UAS may not fly over people, except those directly involved with the flight.
  • Flights should be limited to 500 feet altitude and no faster than 100 mph.
  • Operators must stay out of airport flight paths and restricted airspace areas, and obey any FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).
The proposed rule maintains the existing prohibition against operating in a careless or reckless manner. It also would bar an operator from allowing any object to be dropped from the UAS.

Operators would be responsible for ensuring an aircraft is safe before flying, but the FAA is not proposing that small UAS comply with current agency airworthiness standards or aircraft certification. For example, an operator would have to perform a preflight inspection that includes checking the communications link between the control station and the UAS. Small UAS with FAA-certificated components also could be subject to agency airworthiness directives.

The new rules would not apply to model aircraft. However, model aircraft operators must continue to satisfy all of the criteria specified in Sec. 336 of Public Law 112-95, including the stipulation that they be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes. Generally speaking, the new rules would not apply to government aircraft operations, because we expect that these government operations will typically continue to actively operate under the Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) process unless the operator opts to comply with and fly under the new small UAS regulations.

In addition to this proposal, earlier today, the White House issued a Presidential Memorandum concerning transparency, accountability, and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections for the Federal Government’s use of UAS in the national airspace system which directs the initiation of a multi-stakeholder engagement process to develop a framework for privacy, accountability, and transparency issues concerning commercial and private UAS use.

The current unmanned aircraft rules remain in place until the FAA implements a final new rule. The FAA encourages new operators to visit:
http://www.knowbeforeyoufly.org

You can view the FAA’s Small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking later today at:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/

An overview of the Small UAS rule can be viewed at:
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/media/021515_sUAS_Summary.pdf

You can view the fact sheet at:
http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=18297

For more information on the FAA and UAS, visit: http://www.faa.gov/uas/
 

jfro

jfro

Aerial Fun
They changed the time from 10am to 10:30 and changed the phone number and password. I've been trying for a while and got connected by just hearing some misc tones every 30 or 40 seconds and some muffled voices? Is it over?
 



D

dark_star

Member
It's not an understatement to say this is a historic turn of events. Considering the hard line rules many of us thought were going to happen this is perhaps the best case scenario. The most important thing we can do now is take the time to submit positive comments to the FAA and show as much support as we can. The main obstacle will be other interest groups, like the ALPA and other big lobbies, who were 100% against section 333 exemptions and will likely fight this too. Certainly others will be against it as well. It's even possible that section 333 exempt companies will file negative feedback since they spent tens of thousands of dollars to get approvals that will now be available much easier, with less restrictions and for much less money. For these last few months their money and efforts afforded them a measure of exclusivity that will disappear overnight.

I'm thankful for the timing of this. We were just about to go down the road of submitting for a 333 exemption and everything it entails and now we won't. Huge amount of time and money saved.
 

Old Man

Old Man

Active Member
This release pretty much shuts down my efforts in establishing a waiver documentation service but that's not a bad thing at all. At the same time the release actually expands the opportunities for the technical documentation side though. The doors are opening up for everyone so strong positives to the FAA regarding this NPRM will be needed. I have no doubt the larger professional aviation unions and organizations will strongly object but times and equipment has changed considerably so the rules need to do the same. We still need to work with extreme diligence to improve our, or more accurately, the hobbyists, safety image in the public's eyes. It's time for some positive news articles to make the national publications.
 

scotth

scotth

Member
dark_star said:
It's not an understatement to say this is a historic turn of events. Considering the hard line rules many of us thought were going to happen this is perhaps the best case scenario. The most important thing we can do now is take the time to submit positive comments to the FAA and show as much support as we can. The main obstacle will be other interest groups, like the ALPA and other big lobbies, who were 100% against section 333 exemptions and will likely fight this too. Certainly others will be against it as well. It's even possible that section 333 exempt companies will file negative feedback since they spent tens of thousands of dollars to get approvals that will now be available much easier, with less restrictions and for much less money. For these last few months their money and efforts afforded them a measure of exclusivity that will disappear overnight.

I'm thankful for the timing of this. We were just about to go down the road of submitting for a 333 exemption and everything it entails and now we won't. Huge amount of time and money saved.
Click to expand...

Maybe - definitely food for thought if considering the exemption road. Should you bother? For those commercial operators who had been flying under the radar it would seem less likely now that the FAA would seriously pursue an enforcement action. However, there are estimates that the final rule could be years away, and certainly for the exempted companies, they will still have an edge when working for clients that insist on everything being legal. My 2c.
 

D

dark_star

Member
For sure- the legal issues have always been a consideration. We've lost a significant amount of jobs from folks getting spooked or last minute permit issues over the years. Certainly it has not been ideal. But gray market work has been very good to us overall. When the section 333 thing came about we lost some jobs because of it. But now, ironically, I have producers call who specifically don't want anything to do with 333 operations because of the restrictions and impractical workflow for production. They hate the paperwork, the required lead times, etc.

For Pictorvision, Team 5 and the others who were doing full size ops and wanted to dovetail into sUAS, spearheading the whole exemption process made sense and I understand they were doing what they had to do. Gray market was not an option for them as they would never want to jeopardize loosing FAA certification and their core business. But for the small operators this is one of the magical times that simply waiting has proven to be the best course of action.
 


Old Man

Old Man

Active Member
There's a somewhat different rule set for law enforcement. Things are easier for them. OTH, that copter is not noted as being in any way robust.
 


R

Ronan

Member
Interestingly... after this release... whole bunch of business that were not returning my calls... started doing so...

There is light at the end of the tunnel? I certainly hope so!

Old Man said:
There's a somewhat different rule set for law enforcement. Things are easier for them. OTH, that copter is not noted as being in any way robust.
Click to expand...

Agreed, i'm working with homeland security, and it's very different for them. Much easier to get access to technology, services and resources.
 


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