Just a few days before we went to press with this issue of AeroSafety World, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its long-awaited proposed rule governing small (under 55 lb/25 kg) unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Given the timing of the release — a Sunday morning in the middle of a three-day holiday weekend — and the proximity to our publishing deadline, we have not had the opportunity to thoroughly review the proposed rule, but the release of the notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) marks a significant milestone in the much-clamored-for integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.
The public will have 60 days from the date of the NPRM’s publication in the Federal Register to comment on the proposed regulation. I think it’s safe to assume that the NPRM will garner many comments. The use of UAS is a hot topic in the United States and elsewhere around the world, particularly given the potential economic impact of these new aircr…
