Drone Integration To Move Forward

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/new...-229832-1.html

Drone Integration To Move Forward

By Mary Grady | October 25, 2017

The integration of drones into the National Airspace System will
accelerate with a pilot program directed by the FAA, the
Transportation Department announced
https://www.transportation.gov/UAS-i...-pilot-program on
Wednesday. The initiative will implement a directive signed by
President Donald Trump this week that aims to develop a regulatory
framework to allow more complex low-altitude operations; balance local
and national interests; improve communications with local, state and
tribal jurisdictions; address security and privacy risks; and
accelerate the approval of operations that currently require special
authorizations. The potential economic benefit of integrating drones
into the nation’s airspace is estimated at up to $82 billion and up to
100,000 jobs, according to the president’s directive.

The pilot program will evaluate a variety of operational concepts,
including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the
pilot’s line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid
technologies, counter-UAS security operations and the reliability and
security of data links between pilot and aircraft. “Stakeholders will
have the opportunity through this program to demonstrate how their
innovative technological and operational solutions can address complex
unmanned aircraft integration challenges,” said FAA Administrator
Michael Huerta. “At the same time, the program recognizes the
importance of community participation in meaningful discussions about
balancing local and national interests related to integrating unmanned
aircraft.” The DOT is seeking proposals from private/public
partnerships to participate in the program. The DOT said it will
publish a notice in the Federal Register soon with more details about
how proposals will be evaluated and how the program will work.

Unmanned Vehicles
Comments (1)

At Syracuse Hancock Airport KSYR the Air National Guard's 174th Attach
Wing is flying its Predator MQ-9 Reaper drones now. Last Monday While
I was taxing and waiting for my IFR clearance I watched one make 3 low
approaches to runway 15.

Posted by: Michael Steele | October 25, 2017 5:09 PM
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https://www.transportation.gov/UAS-i...-pilot-program

President Donald Trump and Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announce
Innovative Drone Integration Pilot Program

WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump directed U.S. Secretary of
Transportation Elaine L. Chao today to launch an initiative to safely
test and validate advanced operations for drones in partnership with
state and local governments in select jurisdictions. The Unmanned
Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program implements a
directive signed by President Trump today
https://www.transportation.gov/brief...transportation
, and the results will be used to accelerate the safe integration of
UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned
technology in our economy.

The program will help tackle the most significant challenges in
integrating drones into the national airspace while reducing risks to
public safety and security. The program is designed to provide
regulatory certainty and stability to local governments and
communities, UAS owners and operators who are accepted into the
program. In less than a decade, the potential economic benefit of
integrated unmanned aerial systems into the nation’s airspace is
estimated to equal up to $82 billion and create up to 100,000 jobs.*

The program will help the USDOT and FAA develop a regulatory framework
that will allow more complex low-altitude operations; identify ways to
balance local and national interests; improve communications with
local, state and tribal jurisdictions; address security and privacy
risks; and accelerate the approval of operations that currently
require special authorizations.

“This program supports the President’s commitment to foster
technological innovation that will be a catalyst for ideas that have
the potential to change our day-to-day lives,” said Secretary Chao.
“Drones are proving to be especially valuable in emergency situations,
including assessing damage from natural disasters such as the recent
hurricanes and the wildfires in California.”

The pilot program will evaluate a variety of operational concepts,
including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the
pilot’s line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid
technologies, counter-UAS security operations, and the reliability and
security of data links between pilot and aircraft. Industries that
could see immediate opportunities from the program include commerce,
photography, emergency management, precision agriculture, and
infrastructure inspections and monitoring.

“Stakeholders will have the opportunity through this program to
demonstrate how their innovative technological and operational
solutions can address complex unmanned aircraft integration
challenges,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “At the same time,
the program recognizes the importance of community participation in
meaningful discussions about balancing local and national interests
related to integrating unmanned aircraft.”

Prospective local government participants should partner with the
private sector to develop pilot proposals.

After evaluating all of the applications, the U.S. Department of
Transportation will invite a minimum of five partnerships. In the
coming days, the Department will publish a Federal Register Notice
with more details about how applications will be evaluated and how the
program will work.

###

http://www.auvsi.org/our-impact/economic-report
*AUVSI’s The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration
in the United States report [external link] shows the economic benefit
of UAS integration. AUVSI’s findings show that in the first three
years of integration more than 70,000 jobs will be created in the
United States with an economic impact of more than $13.6 billion. This
benefit will grow through 2025 when we foresee more than 100,000 jobs
created and economic impact of $82 billion.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
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https://www.transportation.gov/brief...transportation

Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

SUBJECT: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. It shall be the policy of the United States to
promote the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and
enable the development of UAS technologies for use in agriculture,
commerce, emergency management, human transportation, and other
sectors. Compared to manned aircraft, UAS provide novel, low cost
capabilities for both public and private applications. UAS present
opportunities to enhance the safety of the American public, increase
the efficiency and productivity of American industry, and create tens
of thousands of new American jobs.

The private sector has rapidly advanced UAS capabilities to address
the needs of recreational, commercial, and public users. To promote
continued technological innovation and to ensure the global leadership
of the United States in this emerging industry, the regulatory
framework for UAS operations must be sufficiently flexible to keep
pace with the advancement of UAS technology, while balancing the vital
Federal roles in protecting privacy and civil liberties; mitigating
risks to national security and homeland security; and protecting the
safety of the American public, critical infrastructure, and the
Nation's airspace. Well-coordinated integration of UAS into the
national airspace system (NAS) alongside manned aircraft will increase
the safety of the NAS and enable the authorization of more complex UAS
operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken steps to integrate
UAS into the NAS at specific test sites and has issued operational
requirements for small UAS operations in the NAS. Further integration
will require continued private-sector cooperation and the involvement
of State, local, and tribal governments in Federal efforts to develop
and enforce regulations on UAS operations in their jurisdictions.
Input from State, local, tribal, and private-sector stakeholders will
be necessary to craft an optimal strategy for the national management
of UAS operations. A coordinated effort between the private sector
and among these governments will provide certainty and stability to
UAS owners and operators, maximize the benefits of UAS technologies
for the public, and mitigate risks to public safety and security.

Sec. 2. UAS Integration Pilot Program.

(a) Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Secretary of
Transportation (Secretary), in consultation with the Administrator of
the FAA (Administrator), shall establish a UAS Integration Pilot
Program (Program) to test the further integration of UAS into the NAS
in a select number of State, local, and tribal jurisdictions.

(b) The objectives of the Program shall be to:

(i) test and evaluate various models of State, local, and tribal
government involvement in the development and enforcement of Federal
regulations for UAS operations;

(ii) encourage UAS owners and operators to develop and safely test
new and innovative UAS concepts of operations; and

(iii) inform the development of future Federal guidelines and
regulatory decisions on UAS operations nationwide.

Sec. 3. Implementation.

(a) To implement the Program, the Secretary or the Administrator, as
appropriate, shall:

(i) solicit proposals from State, local, and tribal governments to
test within their jurisdictions the integration of civil and public
UAS operations into the NAS below 200 feet above ground level, or up
to 400 feet above ground level if the Secretary determines that such
an adjustment would be appropriate;

(ii) select proposals by State, local, and tribal governments for
participation in the Program according to the criteria listed in
subsection (b) of this section;

(iii) enter into agreements with the selected governments to
establish the terms of their involvement in UAS operations within
their jurisdictions, including their support for Federal enforcement
responsibilities; describe the proposed UAS operations to be
conducted; and identify the entities that will conduct such
operations, including, if applicable, the governments themselves; and

(iv) as necessary, use existing authorities to grant exceptions,
exemptions, authorizations, and waivers from FAA regulations to the
entities identified in the agreements described in subsection (iii) of
this section, including through the issuance of waivers under 14 CFR
Part 107 and Certificates of Waiver or Authorization under section 333
of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) (Public Law 112
95).

(b) In selecting proposals for participation in the Program under
subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall consider:

(i) overall economic, geographic, and climatic diversity of the
selected jurisdictions;

(ii) overall diversity of the proposed models of government
involvement;

(iii) overall diversity of the UAS operations to be conducted;

(iv) the location of critical infrastructure;

(v) the involvement of commercial entities in the proposal, and
their ability to advance objectives that may serve the public interest
as a result of further integration of UAS into the NAS;

(vi) the involvement of affected communities in, and their support
for, participating in the Program;

(vii) the commitment of the governments and UAS operators involved
in the proposal to comply with requirements related to national
defense, homeland security, and public safety, and to address
competition, privacy, and civil liberties concerns; and

(viii) the commitment of the governments and UAS operators involved
in the proposal to achieve the following policy objectives:

(A) promoting innovation and economic development;

(B) enhancing transportation safety;

(C) enhancing workplace safety;

(D) improving emergency response and search and rescue functions; and

(E) using radio spectrum efficiently and competitively.

(c) Within 180 days of the establishment of the Program, the
Secretary shall enter into agreements with State, local, or tribal
governments to participate in the Program, with the goal of entering
into at least 5 such agreements by that time.

(d) In carrying out subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary
shall select State, local, or tribal governments that plan to begin
integration of UAS into the NAS in their jurisdictions within 90 days
after the date on which the agreement is established.

(e) The Secretary shall consider new proposals for participation in
the Program up to 1 year before the Program is scheduled to terminate.

(f) The Secretary shall apply best practices from existing FAA test
sites, waivers granted under 14 CFR Part 107, exemptions granted under
section 333 of the FMRA, the FAA Focus Area Pathfinder Program, and
any other relevant programs in order to expedite the consideration of
exceptions, exemptions, authorizations, and waivers from FAA
regulations to be granted under the Program, as described in
subsection (a)(iv) of this section.

(g) The Secretary shall address any non compliance with the terms of
exceptions, exemptions, authorizations, waivers granted, or agreements
made with UAS users or participating jurisdictions in a timely and
appropriate manner, including by revoking or modifying the relevant
terms.

Sec. 4. Coordination.

(a) The Administrator, in coordination with the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall apply relevant
information collected during the Program and preliminary findings to
inform the development of the UAS Traffic Management System under
section 2208 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016
(Public Law 114-190).

(b) The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretaries of Defense
and Homeland Security and the Attorney General, shall take necessary
and appropriate steps to:

(i) mitigate risks to public safety and homeland and national
security when selecting proposals and implementing the Program; and

(ii) monitor compliance with relevant laws and regulations to ensure
that Program activities do not interfere with national defense,
homeland security, or law enforcement operations and missions.

(c) The heads of executive departments and agencies with relevant law
enforcement responsibilities (Federal law enforcement agencies),
including the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security,
shall develop and implement best practices to enforce the laws and
regulations governing UAS operations conducted under the Program.

(d) In carrying out the responsibilities set forth in subsection (c)
of this section, the heads of Federal law enforcement agencies shall
coordinate with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, as well
as with the relevant State, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies.

(e) In implementing the Program, the Secretary shall coordinate with
the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security and the Attorney
General to test counter UAS capabilities, as well as platform and
system-wide cybersecurity, to the extent appropriate and consistent
with law.

Sec. 5. Evaluation and Termination of UAS Integration Pilot Program.

(a) The Program shall terminate 3 years from the date of this
memorandum, unless extended by the Secretary.

(b) Before and after the termination of the Program, the Secretary
shall use the information and experience yielded by the Program to
inform the development of regulations, initiatives, and plans to
enable safer and more complex UAS operations, and shall, as
appropriate, share information with the Secretaries of Defense and
Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the heads of other
executive departments and agencies.

(c) After the date of this memorandum and until the Program is
terminated, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of
Defense and Homeland Security and the Attorney General, shall submit
an annual report to the President setting forth the Secretary's
interim findings and conclusions concerning the Program. Not later
than 90 days after the Program is terminated, the Secretary shall
submit a final report to the President setting forth the Secretary's
findings and conclusions concerning the Program.

Sec. 6. Definitions. As used in this memorandum, the next stated
terms, in singular and plural, are defined as follows:

(a) The term "unmanned aircraft system" has the meaning given that
term in section 331 of the FMRA.

(b) The term "public unmanned aircraft system" has the meaning given
that term in section 331 of the FMRA.

(c) The term "civil unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned
aircraft system that meets the qualifications and conditions required
for operation of a civil aircraft, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 40102.

Sec. 7. General Provisions.

(a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or
agency, or the head thereof;

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative
proposals; or

(iii) the conduct of public aircraft operations, as defined in 49
U.S.C. 40102(a)(41) and 40125, by executive departments and agencies,
consistent with applicable Federal law.

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

(d) The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.


DONALD J. TRUMP

Updated: Wednesday, October 25, 2017
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Related Links

Media Release on UAS Integration Pilot Program
https://www.transportation.gov/UAV-i...-pilot-program

Questions and Answers on UAS Integration Pilot Program
https://www.transportation.gov/brief...egration-pilot

Informational Slides on the UAS Integration Pilot Program and
Application Process
https://www.transportation.gov/brief...egration-pilot

White House Fact Sheet
https://www.transportation.gov/brief...use-fact-sheet
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https://www.transportation.gov/brief...egration-pilot

Questions and Answers on UAS Integration Pilot Program

PDF icon drone-pilot-qanda-final.pdf
UAS Pilot Program banner

Q: What’s the purpose of this program?
A: The purpose of the program is to explore ways to safely expand
cutting-edge drone operations into the National Airspace by pairing
state, local, and tribal governments with unmanned aircraft operators.

Q: How does this initiative differ from existing programs?
A: This program takes collaboration to a new level by enabling local,
state, or tribal governments to determine what kind of activities will
occur in their jurisdictions during the period of the pilot program
and subject to FAA safety oversight. It also gives a wider range of
private operators and localities the chance to propose solutions to
the most difficult integration challenges.

Q: Who can participate?
A: The Presidential Memorandum envisions that state, local and tribal
governments, or combinations thereof, could participate by forming
partnerships with other public and private sector partners. The
Department will announce additional details in the coming days.

Q: Can law enforcement agencies participate?
A: Yes, the Presidential Memorandum envisions participation by law
enforcement, which are key players in unmanned aircraft security
issues.

Q: Can the purpose of a partnership be to impose restrictions on UAS
use?
A: The Presidential Memorandum envisions that partnerships could give
local officials an opportunity to help to manage local operations
subject to FAA safety oversight. The Department will announce
additional details in the coming days.

Q: Is there a time limit on the program?
A: The program will run for three years.

Q: Does that mean the kind of activities that are expected to be part
of the program - operations over people, package delivery, beyond
visual line of sight operations - won't be routinely allowed for at
least three years?
A: Absolutely not! The timetable for allowing any kind of operation is
not tied to the lifecycle of this pilot program. The FAA allows new
types of operations when it determines they can be conducted safely
and subject to existing authority provided by Congress. If the FAA
determines a type of operation that's being evaluated as part of the
pilot program could be conducted safely and routinely, the FAA could
authorize that operation before the program ends.

Q: Let's say a partnership is allowed to conduct operations, such as
flights over people, which are not currently allowed without a waiver.
Will that partnership be able to continue conducting these operations
once the program ends if those operations are still not routinely
allowed elsewhere?
A: No, not without further coordination with the FAA. This program
will explore advanced operations and new models of cooperation with
local governments for a period of three years, with the goal of
enabling advanced operations on a long term basis through rulemakings.
Q: How many applications will be accepted?
A: As directed by the Presidential Memorandum, the DOT will select at
least five partnerships.

Q: What are the new restrictions under the program and who will decide
these parameters?
A: Safety rules will be developed on a case-by-case basis and will
depend on the type of planned operation. The FAA will review all
proposals to ensure they meet the highest safety standards.

Q: Will private companies, such as Amazon, be free to operate drones
over populated or sensitive areas?
A: The Department will address this issue in its guidance to be
released in the coming days.

Q: What are low-altitude operations?
A: Low-altitude operations are operations that take place below 200
feet and in certain cases up to 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL).

Q: What does ‘beyond visual line of sight’ mean?
A: Beyond visual line of sight operations are operations that take
place beyond the pilot's line of sight. In other words, the pilot
cannot see the aircraft with his or her naked eye.

Q: What if I want to participate but can’t find a partner?
A: The Department will describe the process for forming partnerships
in the coming days.

Q: How much federal money will be spent on the program?
A: The Department will address this question in its guidance, to be
released in the coming days.

Q: What Information must the application include?
A: The Department will address this question in its guidance, to be
released in the coming days.

Q: What criteria will be used to evaluate the applications?
A: The Department will address this question in its guidance, to be
released in the coming days.

Q. Does the pilot program include security and privacy considerations?
A. Yes, as noted in the Presidential Memorandum, it absolutely will.
In implementing the pilot program, DOT will coordinate with the
Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and the Attorney General
to test counter-UAS capabilities, as well as platform and system-wide
cybersecurity, as appropriate and consistent with U.S. law.