News and Updates – FAA Issues Restrictions on UAS Operations at DOD Facilities

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Washington The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS) airspace restrictions over additional national security sensitive locations, effective December 30.

In cooperation with its federal partners, the FAA will restrict UAS operations in the airspace over two locations. The first facility is Rock Island Arsenal located between Davenport, Iowa and Rocks Island, Illinois. The second facility is Biometric Technology Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Restrictions on these Department of Defense facilities are to address concerns about drone activity over security sensitive facilities. Information on the FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), FDC 0/5116, can be found on the FAAs UAS Data Delivery System (UDDS) website. This website contains the text of FDC 0/5116 (click on UAS NOTAM FDC 0/5116 on scroll bar along the top of the page).

UAS operators are strongly advised to review these NOTAMs on FAAs UDDS website, which defines these restrictions, and all of the currently covered locations. Further down the page is an interactive map (Map of FAA UAS Data) displaying restricted airspace throughout the U.S. Zooming in will enable viewers to click on the new DOD locations and see the specific restrictions. Each of the locations are in yellow since the restrictions are pending until the Dec. 30 effective date, at which point they will become red.

The restrictions will also be included in the FAAs B4UFLYmobile app.

UAS operators who violate these flight restrictions may be subject to enforcement action, including potential civil penalties and criminal charges.

The FAA considers requests by eligible federal security agencies for UAS-specific flight restrictions using its authority under 14 CFR 99.7. The agency will announce any future changes, including additional locations, as appropriate.

News and Updates – DOT Issues Two New Drone Rules to Advance Safety and Innovation in the U.S.

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Rules require Remote ID of drones and allow small drone operators to fly over people and at night under some conditions.

News and Updates – FAA Grants Santa Claus Special Flight and Launch Permissions

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Santa Claus and his reindeer-powered sleigh granted special permissions to fly directly to rooftops on Christmas Eve.

News and Updates – FAA Begins Scoping Period for Environmental Review at SpaceX Launch Site

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding a public scoping period for the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) related to plans by SpaceX to apply for licenses for suborbital and orbital launches of its Starship/Super Heavy project at its facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

The scoping period will help the FAA in determine the scope of issues for analysis in the draft EA. The FAA requests public comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment. The FAA also invites comments on its consideration of preparing a Programmatic EA for this effort.

The deadline to submit comments is January 22, 2021, and may be submitted to the following email address: spacexbocachica@icf.com.

The proposed update to Starship/Super Heavy operations falls outside of the scope of the existing final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision for the Boca Chica launch site and requires additional environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). SpaceX is working with the FAA to prepare a draft EA which will be subject to the FAAs evaluation and approval.

The EA will allow the FAA to determine the appropriate course of action: preparation of an EIS because the proposed actions environmental impacts would be significant; issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI); or issuance of a Mitigated FONSI providing for mitigation measures to address the proposed actions environmental impacts. The FAA may determine which course of action it will take during the EA process or after SpaceX presents a draft EA for FAA approval.

As part of the application process, SpaceX must also complete a safety review and develop agreements in addition to the environmental review.

Information about the FAA environmental review process as it relates to commercial space transportation is posted at faa.gov/space/environmental.

News and Updates – Updated Runway to Recovery Framework Released

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WASHINGTON Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its government partners released an update to Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus framework. Version 1.1, referred to as R2R 1.1, which updates, refines, and expands upon the recommended risk mitigation practices outlined in the previous Runway to Recovery framework issued in July 2020. R2R 1.1 is informed by the U.S. Governments evolving understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the current level of community spread in the U.S. and other countries, as well as the effectiveness of certain risk mitigation strategies.

The framework provides guidance that helps mitigate the health risk associated with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) for the traveling public and airline and airport workers when using the air transportation system. Like the original version, this document highlights the importance of educating passengers on healthy travel practices, such as wearing a mask, social distancing and COVID-19 testing. Version 1.1 delves deeper into these mitigation strategies as well as addresses the importance of not traveling while ill and how testing can support risk reduction in air transportation and at destination.

Air transportation has an important role in the overall health of the economy, moving the vital good and services U.S. citizens need and allowing essential and personal travel for the public. Continually providing clear updated guidance on how to safely use the nations airports is vital during this public health emergency.

The Runway to Recovery framework will continue to be an evolving document as new information about preventing the transmission of the virus is discovered and data is collected on the success of mitigation strategies.