Will the UAV’s have operational limitations?
The drone or UAS will need to be within sight at all times and no higher than 400ft. They must remain 5 miles from an airport and 2 miles from a helicopter landing pad. Drones must also stay clear of major structures such as antennas and buildings, as well as populated areas without a Certificate of Authorization (COA) and private property (FAA, 2016) The FAA has regulations for these UAS, stating that any UAS that meets the weight requirement ranging from .55lbs and 55lbs, must be registered (DIY Photography, 2015). The interaction between UAV’s and the public is a concern on a safety level, both for privacy measures and potential harm to innocent civilians. Like any type of technology, a UAV could be used for wrong doing and can cause more harm than good, for example spying on your neighbors, stalking individuals, crashing into things or destroying property from recklessness.
Are there UAV Organizations?
There are associations that a UAS enthusiast or commercial operators can join. The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), and The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) The site ”Know Before You Fly” is an educational campaign that distributes current information to new and experienced UAV owners about the lasts trends with UAV’s for “safe and responsible flying,” (2015). If you are looking to get your UAV certified, the Gowdy Brothers Aerospace provides a certification service for registering UAV’s that guarantees a 100% success rate of certification (2016). This is beneficial to individuals who want to follow the FAA requirements but have difficulty with all of the paperwork involved or have previously been denied certification. This company is run by drone pilots and enthusiast who understand the business of aviation and are in business to help the industry get through the hurdles or working through government regulations. Gowdy Brothers keep up to date information and articles related to the UAV population on their website.
What Qualifies as Recreational vs. Commercial Use of a UAV?
Recreational UAV is considered for pleasure such as creating videos, taking pictures of your own property, drone races and competitions among fellow enthusiasts. According to the Know Before You Go website, commercial use of a UAV is an activity that is done for profit such as site surveys, videos or photos for companies or private clients (2015). Research may be conducted with a drone, but it is necessary to apply for a COA prior to conducting the research (Gowdy Brothers, 2016).
What are some of the Future Opportunities of UAV’s?
New business UAV opportunities for the commercial sector could include the use of drone surveillance for security of large corporate buildings, public demonstrations, concerts, crowd observance and other events that span large areas that would be difficult to oversee with traditional security methods or if manpower is low.
Is a transponder or ADSB system required?
Documentation of the need for transponders is not yet mentioned on the FAA website. These systems are not required for a UAV of this size but the UAV must be registered and documented with the FAA. I would imagine that the lack of transponder is due to the small frame of the UAV. The operational limitations of this aircraft make it unnecessary for a UAV to be visible to the tower or any type of radar. However, the lack of radar signature does pose an issue that a UAV is untraceable. It leaves a void in operator accountability when upholding the FAA regulations as there is no way to verify that various limitations are followed (FAA, 2016).
Aircraft operators require extensive training and certifications for different aircraft. Will UAV operators be required to get training, certifications or licenses?
Training is offered by Gowdy Brothers Aerospace for new and experienced pilots in agreement with regulations that require progression of skills and logging UAV flight hours (2016). The training would be in accordance to the
The National Airspace System (NAS) requires a pilot certificate in order to fly a UAV at higher altitudes than 400ft (FAA, 2016). This certification would include training on how to communicate with air traffic control so that you could safely navigate in NAS airspace with traditional aircraft. I imagine this intense certification would be limited to companies that require drone pilots for their business needs. Such companies would already have pilots on staff that could serve in both roles as a traditional pilot and a UAV pilot to maximize their investment.
Will insurance be required to cover property damage in the case of accidents or collisions with other aircraft?
Insurance is not currently required for UAV’s, but it is recommended if using a drone for commercial use. A drone pilot would be more likely to gain clients if they have liability insurance; this shows the client that the business is more credible. A home owner’s policy may cover UAV’s or model aircraft if used for recreational purposes. According to “UAV Coach” in order to be eligible for insurance, insurance companies may require flight log documentation, maintenance and repair logs and battery duty cycles (2016). http://uavcoach.com/drone-insurance-guide/
Would there be a registration system in place to track the UAV’s with an equivalent N number?
Paper-based registration is only required for traditional aircraft and UAV’s over 55lbs. This would produce a “N number” and has a longer processing time frame. A UAV under 55lbs can register with the online system and a “N number” is not assigned (FAA, 2016). Failure to register will result in a civil penalty of no more than $27,500 or prison time (FAA, 2016). Registration must be completed before using the UAV.
References
Brugett, G. (2015, December 14). FAA now requires all drones to be registered and marked, site to go live on December 21st - DIY Photography. Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.diyphotography.net/faa-now-requires-all-drones-to-be-registered-and-marked-site-to-go-live-on-december-21st/COA Filing - Gowdy Brothers Aerospace, LLC. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.gowdybrothers.com/coa-filing/
Model Aircraft Operations. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/
RECREATIONAL USERS. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-recreational-users/
UAS Registration Q&A. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/faqs/
UAV Coach | Online Drone Training. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from http://www.uavcoach.com/
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/faq/#qn25)
What Can I Do With My Small Unmanned Aircraft? (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2016, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/model_aircraft_operators/
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