Will Lead Advisory Committee To Set Standards For UAVs Flying
In US Airspace
"We volunteered for this job because
we want to make sure that these unmanned aircraft don't have an
impact on our members, literally and figuratively," said Andy
Cebula, AOPA senior vice president of Government and Technical
Affairs. "Before UAVs are ever released into general airspace,
they'll have to be able to do what a pilot in a Cessna 172 does
— see and avoid other aircraft, operate within the confines
of today's ATC system, and operate without special conditions or
special services such as being able to deal with emergencies
without endangering other aircraft."
AOPA has accepted the role as co-chair of RTCA's Special
Committee 203, which will in essence write the UAV certification
standards. RTCA is a private, not-for-profit membership
organization that functions as a Federal Advisory Committee. RTCA
advisory committees bring together government, industry, and
academic experts to develop recommendations to be used by the FAA
and the aviation community.
UAV operations in the US are currently very limited. The drones
fly within special-use airspace, either restricted areas or
military operations areas. Outside of such airspace, UAV operations
must have a "Certificate of Authorization" approved by both the air
traffic and flight standards branches of the FAA. The operations
have to be conducted within strict parameters, including using
chase planes and/or ground spotters to monitor their activity.
AOPA has consistently advocated that UAVs must be as safe as
piloted aircraft (See "No UAV close encounters.")
"Currently there are no UAVs or UAV pilots certified by the
FAA," said Randy Kenagy, AOPA senior director of advanced
technology and co-chairman of the UAV advisory committee.
"There's no doubt that UAVs are
coming, and there is increased pressure on the FAA to approve their
operation in the system. It is critical that these unmanned
aircraft do not endanger other aircraft or result in restricting
airspace. We will develop consensus standards involving both the
UAV community and existing airspace users," said Kenagy.
There are some tough hurdles to jump before UAVs can share our
airspace.
"Consider operating from a public-use airport," said Kenagy.
"The UAV not only will have to 'detect and avoid' other aircraft,
it will have to fit into the traffic pattern and communicate its
intentions to other pilots."
Then consider emergencies. Some plans call for UAVs to fly at
very high altitudes, well above general aviation and commercial
airline operations. But what happens if there is an engine failure,
and the aircraft has to descend through civilian traffic?
"Our benchmark for the standards will be a piloted vehicle
operating VFR," said Kenagy. "Only when a UAV can fit into the
system with the same level of safety will it be ready to share our
airspace."