The Federal Aviation Administration and trade groups representing drone and model aircraft operators announced the launch of a “Know Before You Fly” website and educational campaign on December 22, the day the FAA was expected to release a long-delayed proposed regulation for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The agency plans to release the draft rule “as quickly as we possibly can,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
In a conference call with reporters, representatives of the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the recently formed Small UAV Coalition joined with Huerta to unveil the educational campaign, which they said was timed to launch just before the holiday weekend. Founders unveiled the Washington, D.C.-based Small UAV Coalition in October; its members are Amazon, 3D Robotics, Airware and camera manufacturer GoPro, all based in California, and foreign-based firms DJI Innovations, Parrot and Aerialtronics.
“These organizations have a mutual interest in promoting safe and responsible flying,” said Michael Toscano, AUVSI executive director. “In just a few days, kids old and young are going to unwrap [Christmas] presents, and many of them, maybe tens of thousands, will have unmanned aircraft. This technology is very accessible and in very high demand, but information about how to fly safely is not that readily available. That’s why we’ve created this campaign, to provide prospective users of unmanned aircraft or drones with information and guidelines that will help them fly in a safe and responsible way.”
The campaign website, www.knowbeforeyoufly.org, contains a several graphics illustrating the FAA’s major requirements for operating small drones, each linking to a relevant page on the agency’s website. The site also summarizes the rules that apply to each of three categories of users: recreational, business and public. Similarly, the campaign has posted a Know Before You Fly video on YouTube.
During the teleconference, Huerta summarized what he called “best practices” drone operators should follow: “Don’t fly above 400 feet, keep your unmanned aircraft within sight, don’t operate near people or crowds, do not fly an unmanned aircraft within five miles of an airport without notifying FAA air traffic control or the airport operator,” he said. In regard to commercial operations, “you may only fly unmanned aircraft for hobby or for recreational uses,” Huerta added. “You cannot earn money or use it for your business unless you get prior authorization from the FAA.”
Executives with the FAA have said repeatedly that the small UAS notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which would establish the regulatory baseline for operators to fly drones for more than recreational purposes, will be released by the end of the year. The Department of Transportation’s regularly updated “report on significant rulemakings” indicated the NPRM would be released on December 22. Its original intended release date was March 10, 2011.
Huerta was noncommittal when asked if the NPRM will be released by year-end. “We’re working very closely with our administration colleagues and we’re very focused on getting it out as quickly as we possibly can,” he said. “It’s a very complicated rule and the important thing is that we want to get it right.”