Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker Testifies Before House Oversight Committee

An FAA official told the House Oversight Committee Wednesday that a commercial UAV rule may be issued within a year.

"The rule will be in place within a year," FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said in his testimony before the committee. "Hopefully before June 17, 2016."

In his written testimony Whitaker said that as the aerospace industry and aviation system grow more complex, "we must ensure that our resources are directed to the areas with the highest safety risk. We will need to expand collaborative, data-driven processes with the UAS industry to improve safety and streamline process in areas such as certification. We must meet challenges and take advantage of opportunities.

"To reach these objectives, a new advisory circular is being developed to inform the UAS industry how to use a risk based decision-making process to establish certification criteria. This advisory circular is essential for enabling the certification of larger UAS for operation in the NAS.

"The safe integration of UAS into the NAS will be facilitated by new technologies being deployed as part of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). NAS Voice System (NVS), Data Communications (Data Comm), and System Wide Information Management (SWIM) will provide more information, flexibility, situational awareness and a greater ability to communicate with NAS users."

Whitaker said that UAVs have become increasingly available and affordable to the average consumer, many of whom are not trained aviators, and that manned aircraft operators have reported close calls with UAS flying in the airspace. "The FAA is taking a proactive approach to educate the public on the safe and responsible use of UAS," he said. "The FAA provided model aircraft enthusiasts guidance on the “do’s and don’ts” of safe model aircraft operations. Last year, we partnered with members of industry and the modeling community to initiate the “Know Before You Fly” outreach campaign that provides UAS operators with the information they need to fly safely and responsibly.

"The FAA’s No Drone Zone initiative, designed to raise public awareness of the FAA Notice to Airmen prohibiting unauthorized aircraft -- including UAS -- from flying over or near NFL regular- and post-season football games is a success. The No Drone Zone video posted on YouTube prior to the 2015 Super Bowl has received over 57,000 hits. Most important, we received no reports of unauthorized activity in the restricted airspace around the University of Phoenix Stadium during the game.

"Recognizing that local law enforcement is often in  the best position to respond quickly, the FAA issued guidance for these first responders to deter, detect, investigate, and report unauthorized or unsafe UAS operations. While our first preference is to educate UAS operators about statutory and regulatory compliance, we will use administrative and legal enforcement action to gain compliance when appropriate."

The news was welcomed by companies like Amazon, which has ambitious plans for the use of UAVs for the delivery of small packages. Reuters reports that Amazon VP Global Public Policy Paul Misener, who also testified at the hearing, said “We’d like to begin delivering to our customers as soon as it’s approved. We will have (the technology) in place by the time any regulations are ready. We are working very quickly.”

(Images from file. Michael Whitaker pictured in image from committee video)

FMI: http://oversight.house.gov