Six Hollywood production companies will become the first approved users of commercial unmanned air systems (UAS) in US airspace below the Arctic under new exemptions granted by the US Department of Transportation on 25 February.
The decision opens the door to similar requests already filed by more than 40 others representing a broad range of industries and fills a void in the US regulatory system for UAS operations until the FAA launches a formal rulemaking process by issuing a propose new rule in draft form.
In a move that could dramatically ease the application process for commercial UAS operators, DOT Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx also exempted the six film companies from needing a certificate of airworthiness to operate in public airspace.
“We are thoroughly satisfied these operations will not pose a hazard to other aircraft or to people and property on the ground,” says FAA administrator Michael Huerta.
The operators will now have the opportunity to receive certificates of authorisation or waiver (COAs) from the FAA. COA holders can then request permission from the FAA to launch individual flights.
The FAA also accepted a set of safety conditions proposed by the six film companies. A certificated pilot will operate the UAS in line of sight under 400ft in a sterile area of a “closed set”, and never at night. The pilots also must perform an inspection before each flight.
Commercial UAS operations pose quite a challenge for a regulatory framework designed for manned aircraft. Some FAA regulations are simply incompatible with UAS flight.
An example cited by one petitioner is a requirement for a 30min fuel reserve. On the small, battery-operated aircraft being proposed, that would leave only 10min of power available. Instead, the company proposed to operate the UAS for a maximum of 30min or to within 25% of battery power remaining.
Despite the exemption, commercial UAS operators face a long road to gaining routine access to US airspace. Congress has imposed a year-end deadline on the FAA to publish a draft rule for small UAS operations, but the agency is widely expected to run late.
Releasing the draft proposal is still only a first step of a years-long and uncertain rulemaking process.
In the meantime, the FAA will grant airspace access to commercial UAS flights under a law passed by Congress in 2012, allowing the agency to approve flights on a case-by-case basis, with severe limitations, such as a line-of-sight rule.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
