Feeling Is Generally Positive, But Many Remain Unsatisfied
Several industry groups and other stakeholders have reacted to the release Tuesday of the FAA's new Part 107, which will regulate sUAS operations.
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), the Ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, said the rule is an important first step towards establishing 'Rules of the Road' for UAV operators. “The unmanned aircraft system industry is booming – and as a global hub for aviation research and development Washington’s second district is well-positioned to benefit from this technological revolution,” Larsen (pictured) said. “But as these technologies are increasingly integrated into our everyday lives it is critical that safety remains the number one priority, and these regulations are an important first step in establishing rules of the road for these aircraft.”
ALPA, which said in a statement it has been a strong supporter of the FAA as it crafted the rule, feels it does not go far enough when it comes to areas like pilot certification. "While the regulations ... contain beneficial safety provisions, such as limiting operations to line of sight, no night-time operations, and not exceeding 400 feet in altitude, ALPA would like to see the FAA take a stronger stance in ensuring that those who commercially pilot sUAS hold the same certificate as commercial-rated pilots. This will assure a standard level of aeronautical knowledge and training across all pilots operating UAS commercially," the union said in a statement.
“Further, ALPA urges Congress to ensure that the FAA has the authority to fully regulate hobbyists and recreational flyers of UAS aircraft. Recreational users make up the bulk of UAS flyers, yet they are virtually unregulated due to legislative conditions placed on the FAA. It is essential that all rules developed to promote the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems must be consistent with and compatible with those for all other airspace users.
“We will continue to work with the FAA and stakeholders to further advance the safe integration of sUAS for both commercial operators and hobbyists. ALPA remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing the unparalleled safety record of U.S. aviation.”
NBAA said in a statement that it recognized that the FAA had maintained a good balance between safety for manned aircraft operating in the NAS and a rapidly-emerging industry. "Overall, these regulations provide clearly-defined operating parameters that commercial UAS users have sought for years,” said Bob Lamond, NBAA director, air traffic services & infrastructure.
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a leading tech policy think tank, said the rules would be limiting as the UAV industry continues to grow. "ITIF commends the FAA for introducing its much anticipated rules that would open up more opportunities for businesses to use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—commonly referred to as drones—to cut costs and deliver innovative services. These rules allow low-risk commercial operations and create a process for the FAA to allow more advanced operations, like delivering packages, while still ensuring safety," said ITIF Vice President Daniel Castro in a statement released to the media.
"However, the final order imposes different rules on commercial operations than hobbyists using the same technology, despite the fact that the level of risk is independent of whether the UAS operator receives compensation. A hobbyist taking a picture with a UAS presents no more of a risk than a professional photographer doing the same. It is incumbent on Congress to fix this issue and allow the FAA to enforce a technology-neutral common set of rules across all UAS users.
"Going forward, the FAA should continue to be firmly committed to bolstering U.S. competitiveness in UAS and to promoting commercial UAS activity. To achieve this, it should commit to rapidly developing rules that allow more advanced operations, such as flights over individuals, by embracing a flexible, risk-based approach to safety concerns," Castro said.
(Source: News releases)
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