The Haphazard Regulation of the UAV Market Continues A Willy-Nilly Course--How Will It Affect The Rest Of Aviation?

News/Analysis/Commentary by ANN CEO/E-I-C Jim Campbell

ANN is monitoring reports that a mandatory UAV/Drone registration program is about to be dropped on the US aviation industry sometime Monday, along with a 'task force' to implement the requirement.

Placing the need for such overt regulation on the 'many' published/publicized instances of drone v manned aircraft reports, even though many of those reports have been discounted or minimize by expert examination, the matter is expected to be a fait accompli.

The Department of Transportation appears to be the instigator for this effort, and many questions exist as to how the government will handle such an effort in light of the muck-up the FAA already makes of conventional aircraft registration -- not to mention where the needed resources will come from (can you say Drone User fee?).

In light of the FAA over-reaction to operator violations of rules that technically (in large part) don't yet exist, such as the mammoth much publicized $1.9M fine against an aerial photography operator, the move is seen as the next in a confusing series of (mis) steps on the way to a much-delayed package of UAV regs... a situation made all the more arduous by the FAA's overt/ignorant mishandling of UAV/UAS issues to this point.

While the drone industry is getting little love/support from the conventional manned aircraft associations and trade organizations, one thing being missed in the aero-industry's short sighted anti-UAV invective is a clear understanding of the emergent industry itself and significant danger in that what the FAA starts with the UAV movement could spread to the rest of aviation in terms of more regs, less understanding, more expense, and a continuation of the FAA's willingness to damage whole industries in the name of looking good in the media... especially before the Administration, who is no fan of all things aeronautical.

The UAV community, on the other hand, has literally begged for proper and informed regulations... and watched the FAA's and other promises come and go, along with much vaunted deadlines and other commitments. And worse, those with the requisite expertise, namely the majority of UAV and UAS-oriented associations and organizations, are virtually ignored in the regulatory process... and in light of the FAA's history of ignorantly/amateurishly regulating technologies for which they are not properly educated, the future looks problematic indeed.

More info to follow...

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.transportation.gov, www.ama.org, www.auvsi.org, http://jrupprechtlaw.com/the-problems-with-mandatory-drone-registration