The FAA has indefinitely delayed site selection for unmanned aircraft system trial flights, effectively stalling the push to integrate UAS into civil airspace.
In a letter to Congressman Howard McKeon, Republican from California and chairman of the House Unmanned Systems Caucus, the FAA has stated that the establishment of six test sites for UAS for experimentation is suspended.
“Our target was to have six test sites by the end of 2012,” says the letter, signed by acting FAA administrator Michael Huerta. “However, increasing the use of UAS in our airspace also raises privacy issues, and these issues will need to be addressed as unmanned aircraft are safely integrated.”
Site selection is specified in the FAA’s latest reauthorization, the Congressional legislation that funds the agency for the coming year. The sites, which were to be identified by August, 2012, are not specified. The same legislation commits the FAA to establishing rules to integrate small UAS by 2015.
Under current aviation rules, no UAS are allowed into civil airspace without an explicit certificate of authorization by the FAA. Such authorizations to date have included cumbersome requirements, including dedicated air traffic controllers and required chase aircraft.
Allowing UAS regular access to national airspace raises concerns among privacy advocates, who argue that the aircraft could be used to monitor people without their knowledge or consent, in much the same way as the US military does over Afghanistan.
“The FAA will complete its statutory obligations to integrate UAS into the national airspace as quickly and efficiently as possible,” says Huerta’s letter. “However, we must fulfill those obligations in a thoughtful, prudent manner that ensures safety, addresses privacy issues, and promotes economic growth.”
Source: Flight Global
The FAA has determined that an unmanned aircraft is an” aircraft” and it must abide by the rules, safety requirements and pilot certification of CF Title 14. Although the Unmanned Aircraft Systems, (UAS) are not yet allowed access to the National Air Space, without a specific waiver or Certificate of Authorization (COA), there are concerns and misinformation being circulated on privacy issues. The classification of aircraft puts all operators under the FAA regulations, altitude restrictions, and certification of airmen. For the recent surge in privacy concerns, it will actually become more transparent if an individual were to abuse anyone’s privacy. Unmanned is not without a pilot and there are several other professionals involved with the operation. Any video or abuse can be witnesses by several individuals which actually add to the transparency of operation. If one were to read the restrictions within CF-14, they would quickly discern that becoming a professional pilot is not an easy task or an accomplishment given up lightly. All airman certifications can be suspended or revoked if privileges are abused by the certificate holder. After the initial Private Pilot License, there follows an Instrument and Commercial Pilot Rating for any paid use while operating an aircraft. This is a very expensive and hard earned certificate to lightly give up without great risk for some violation of the privilege. The successful intended uses for the UAS are for operations that are too dangerous or hazardous for manned flight. The capabilities of past UAS operations have been proven in several natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Japan nuclear nightmare.