Applies To Non-Hobby And Non-Recreational Uses

The FAA has posted its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for commercial operation of UAVs in the Federal Register and opened the comment period for the rule until April 24.

According to the rule's executive summary, the rulemaking proposes operating requirements to allow small unmanned aircraft systems (small UAS) to operate for non-hobby or non-recreational purposes. A small UAS consists of a small unmanned aircraft (which, as defined by statute, is an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds) and equipment necessary for the safe and efficient operation of that aircraft. The FAA has accommodated non-recreational small UAS use through various mechanisms, such as special airworthiness certificates, exemptions, and certificates of waiver or authorization (COA). This proposed rule would be the next phase of integrating small UAS into the NAS.

The following are examples of possible small UAS operations that could be conducted under this proposed framework:
Crop monitoring/inspection;

• Research and development;
• Educational/academic uses;
• Power-line/pipeline inspection in hilly or mountainous terrain;
• Antenna inspections;
• Aiding certain rescue operations such as locating snow avalanche victims;
• Bridge inspections;
• Aerial photography; and
• Wildlife nesting area evaluations.

Because of the potential societally beneficial applications of small UAS, the FAA has been seeking to incorporate the operation of these systems into the national airspace system (NAS) since 2008. In April 2008, the FAA chartered the small UAS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC).

In April 2009, the ARC provided the FAA with recommendations on how small UAS could be safely integrated into the NAS. Since that time, the FAA has been working on a rulemaking to incorporate small UAS operations into the NAS.

FMI: Full NPRM