The persistent divide between advocates and skeptics of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) being integrated safely into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) shows signs of narrowing, according to speakers at two recent industry events. Open-ended speculation, criticism and resistance appear to be yielding to an urgent need for cooperation among stakeholders to mitigate risks implicit in the federally mandated UAS integration process set in motion in early 2012 (ASW, 3/12, p. 34). Presenters typically described UAS integration a vital common interest.
The views were shared at the 2012 ALPA Air Safety Forum conducted in Washington by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and at ISASI 2012, a seminar conducted in Baltimore by the International Society of Air Safety Investigators (ISASI).
“The amount of time already elapsed in bringing forth civil, certified, routine [UAS] operations has fr…
