AMA Urges Caution Concerning Operation Near Crowds
The FAA is currently reviewing the report and recommendations of the Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Aviation Rulemaking Committee. The agency had tasked the group to develop recommendations for performance-based regulations that would let certain unmanned aircraft operate over people not directly involved in the flight of the aircraft.
The rulemaking committee, which began meeting March 8, worked under a tight deadline of April 1 to deliver its report. The task force included a diverse set of aviation stakeholders, including UAS manufacturers, UAS operators, consensus standards organizations, researchers and academics.
“We commend the committee members for their sincere dedication and for producing a comprehensive report in such a short time,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “This type of collaborative government and industry partnership is exactly what is needed to keep pace with this rapidly changing industry and will serve as a model for future rulemaking advisory tasks.”
The ARC’s consensus report recommends establishing four small UAS categories, defined primarily by risk of injury to people below the flight path. For each category, the group recommends assigning a potential risk linked to either weight or impact energy. The report also addresses operational restrictions and standards to minimize the risks associated with each category.
The FAA will use the information in the report to develop a flexible, performance-based proposed rule. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposal based on the ARC’s recommendations.
Dave Mathewson, executive director of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), which is the world’s largest community-based organization whose members fly model aircraft for recreational and educational purposes, said that the organization has concerns about some of the provisions of the report.
“While AMA is thankful for the opportunity to participate in the ARC process, we are concerned that allowing some unmanned aircraft to operate over and within close proximity to people will heighten the anxiety of a society that is already hypersensitive to the introduction of ‘drones’ into our communities.
“AMA understands that the recommendations and subsequent regulations, if proposed and enacted, only pertain to non-recreational operators and primarily those that operate unmanned aircraft for business purposes. AMA has a longstanding safety guideline that has been developed over the Academy’s 80-years of experience in managing the recreational unmanned aircraft (model aircraft) community that precludes flight over unprotected persons. AMA’s safety code requires our members to stay at least 25 feet away from people and never intentionally fly above people or moving vehicles. AMA believes this is a sound and proven safety guideline and, in light of the ARC’s recommendation, does not foresee changing its policy for the recreational user.
“Regardless, we look forward to working with the ARC members and the broader UAS community to ensure the safe and responsible use of model aircraft, consumer drones, and commercial UAS. To ensure that everyone flying model aircraft and consumer drones have access to basic safety guidelines, in 2014 AMA helped launch the Know Before You Fly campaign with our industry partners. Additionally, AMA teamed up with retailer Best Buy in 2015 to display safety information on store shelves and on store receipts of drone purchases. AMA’s decades of experience demonstrates that an education-focused and community-based approach is the best way to manage recreational flyers.”
(Source: FAA, AMA news releases. Images from file)
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