I try to avoid writing my editorial on the same subject two issues in a row, but I’m going to make an exception for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). As promised last month, beginning on p. 36 of this issue of AeroSafety World, you can find more detail on the safety factors and regulatory framework the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to govern the operation of small UAS aircraft (under 55 lb/25 kg) in the National Airspace System (NAS).
I’m mentioning this because April 24 is the deadline to comment on the FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which the framework is outlined. This is your chance to have your input heard, so speak up. It is important for the aviation safety community to weigh in on this issue.
Meanwhile, a growing and diverse group of organizations has gotten behind the “Know Before You Fly” UAS public education campaign launched in December by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Academy of…
