More UAV-Related Flight Restrictions On The Way

It came as a bit of a surprise to all of us: last Friday, the FAA suddenly -- and somewhat unexpectedly -- established a temporary flight restriction (TFR) area near Nogales, AZ along the Mexican border for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights. The Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association was also surprised by the year-long TFR, and they've let their feelings about the sudden airspace restriction be known to the FAA.

"While there has been ongoing discussion regarding TFRs for US Customs Border Patrol UAV operations, the unexpected, immediate implementation of this TFR raises concerns that the FAA and the Department of Homeland Security have not taken into consideration the impact that this kind of TFR has on general aviation," said Melissa Rudinger, vice president for regulatory affairs at AOPA.

"The association staff is meeting this week with the FAA, Homeland Security, and other security officials to take up the issue," Rudinger added.

This isn't the first time AOPA has raised concerns about UAV operations in airspace shared with general aviation -- the organization has consistently insisted that unmanned aerial vehicles be able to detect and avoid other aircraft at least as well as "see and avoid" works for manned aircraft.

Current UAVs simply can't do that, which is why TFRs are needed -- to keep civilian aircraft out of the airspace where the unmanned vehicles are operating, according to AOPA.

"We've also said that it would be unacceptable to cordon off large areas of civilian airspace in order to protect UAVs that can't avoid other aircraft," said Rudinger. "The implications of this TFR are alarming."

A 15 nautical mile-wide TFR along the U.S. southern border, for example, would impact more than 100 airports, more than 1,300 based aircraft, and nearly 750,000 annual general aviation flight operations.

Unfortunately, says AOPA, the FAA had told the group more TFRs are on the way near Nogales, extending the current TFR into New Mexico.

"This recent action underscores why general aviation cannot ignore UAVs," said Rudinger.

FMI: www.aopa.org