Doug Davis is currently Director, Global UAS Strategic Initiatives at New Mexico State University, after spending almost 25 years with the FAA. He is widely known and respected for his pioneering work in developing the vision for how UAS will operate in the National Airspace System. We asked Doug for his appraisal of the current legislative and budgetary situations facing the FAA and the progress that it is being made. Doug told us:
“After reviewing the passed versions of the House and Senate Language, I have the following thoughts:
- I find it very encouraging that UAS will hopefully play a bigger role in NextGen. That has the potential for a cross-over to SESAR as well.
- The FAA will be hard-pressed to create a “safe, non-exclusionary airspace designation” for manned and unmanned aircraft.
- In addition, full NAS Integration by 2015 will be difficult, if not impossible, unless appropriate funding is there to support this.
- The budget challenges facing the FAA can only be described as austere. Although it is encouraging to see the reality of UAS language making it into a final bill (after years of continuing resolutions and omnibus bills), the budget woes have the potential of making all of this language moot.
- All of the recommendations will require more resources for the FAA to be successful. Chances are they won’t get that anytime soon given the budget turmoil.
- Anything can happen when the Senate and House go to conference and try to resolve the differences in the two bills. The caution the community needs to take is not to assume anything and to re-evaluate after this critical step in the process is over. It’s going to be interesting to watch…!”
There many ways to skin a cat or build a safe airspace for both manned and unmanned aircraft with operaions stating in 2015. First, let someone other than the USA take the lead. Second, force commercial, business, recreational manned aircraft representatives to work with the UAS community and the FAA on a reasonable sel of solutions. Third, use the National Security need for border and coast surveillance to drive the 2015 operational goal.
These are just three of many actions that can be taken if this country is really interested in UAS integration in the USA airspace.
In the past aviation has been innovative in growing the industry. Now is the time to ignite this same innovative spirit.