News and Updates – FAA Moving Forward to Enable Safe Integration of Drones

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WASHINGTON The FAA published airworthiness criteria for the proposed certification of 10 different Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones as special class aircraft. This is a crucial step to enabling more complex drone operations beyond what is allowed under the small unmanned aircraft rule (Part 107), including package delivery.

The development of airworthy, durable, and reliable unmanned aircraft is a crucial step forward for this innovative sector, said Dr. Michael C. Romanowski, director of Aircraft Certification Service Policy and Innovation. Type certification will help increase both public and regulatory confidence in drone technology as operations become more advanced.

The airworthiness criteria provide a level of safety equivalent to that provided by existing airworthiness standards applicable to other categories of aircraft, and establish a defined path to type certification for specific drones. Each applicant seeking a type certificate must follow FAAs requirements and safety objectives.

Airworthiness criteria notices are published in the Federal Register for the following applicants:

The applicants drones range from five to 89 pounds and include several types of vehicle designs, including both fixed wing and rotorcraft, and are all electric powered. Each notice outlines the applicants proposed UAS for certification and the airworthiness criteria proposed by the FAA.

This is a step in the certification process and does not imply these applicants have earned type certificates. Final determination of whether a specific drone meets FAA safety requirements will occur after the applicant demonstrates they have complied with these requirements.

The public has 30 days to comment on each applicants airworthiness criteria, and deadlines are specified in each individual notice. The FAA will consider the comments as it establishes criteria for type certifying each UAS and will publish final airworthiness criteria after the comment period closes.

News and Updates – FAA Offers Tips to Fly Healthy during the Holidays

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If your holiday celebrations involve flying to see family and friends, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) encourages you to visit FlyHealthy.gov for updated federal guidance to safely navigate all aspects of air travel during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The website provides one-stop access to all of the resources and latest travel-related information from the FAA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of State (DOS).

It also walks an airline passenger through each step of the air travel process to help everyone have a safe journey and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In addition to always wearing a mask in the airport and on the aircraft, maintaining social distance and frequently washing your hands, the site offers a few other key travel tips, including:

  • Check travel restrictionsat your destination before you go and when you return home.
  • Bring extra supplies such as masks and hand sanitizer. As a temporary exemption from the 3-1-1 rule, TSA is allowing one oversized liquid hand sanitizer container, up to 12 ounces per passenger, in carry-on bags.
  • Pack Safe!Know what is in your carry-on and checked bags and remove prohibited items before arriving at the checkpoint.
  • Know when to delay your travel. If you are sick, stay home and do not travel!

Regardless of where you traveled or what you did during your trip, you may have been exposed to COVID-19. You may feel well and not have symptoms, but you can be contagious without symptoms and spread the virus to others.It is important to take action when returning home to protect others from getting sick.

Go here for general air travel safety tips. Fly Healthy, fly smart and enjoy the holiday.

News and Updates – FAA to Hold Dec. 2 Public Meeting for Space Florida Shuttle Landing Facility

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold a virtual public meeting to receive public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Titusville, Fla. The meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, from 5 to 7 p.m. EST.

Virtual meeting instructions will be posted here by Nov. 30, 2020.

Space Florida, a state-chartered spaceport authority,currently holds a Launch Site Operator License to operate the SLF. It now intends to apply to the FAA for a Reentry Site Operator License (RSOL) to offer the SLF to commercial space operators and proposes to support up to a total of 17 reentry landings over the next five years (2021-2025).

Issuing the RSOL is subject to environmental review under National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). The draft EA for this project is subject to the FAAs evaluation and approval.

During this virtual public meeting, Space Florida will provide information on its proposed project, FAA will provide a licensing and EA overview, and members of the public can provide oral comments.

The deadline for public comments is Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. Comments should be mailed to Stacey Zee, SLF PEA, c/o ICF, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031. Comments may also be submitted via email toslfproject@icf.com.Commenters may use this form: SLF Reentry EA Comment Form.

The completion of the environmental review process does not guarantee that the FAA will issue a RSOL to Space Florida. The Proposed Action must also meet FAA safety, risk, and financial responsibility requirements.

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

News and Updates – FAA To Begin Environmental Review at SpaceX Texas Launch Site

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SpaceX has informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it plans to apply for licenses for suborbital and orbital launches of its Starship spacecraft powered by the Super Heavy rocket at its launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

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 launch site and requires additional environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The FAA is in the beginning stages of conducting the environmental review of the SpaceX proposal and developing a public outreach plan. The FAA intends to provide scoping information for the project soon. SpaceX is working with the FAA to prepare a draft Environmental Assessment (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 make its determination during the EA process or after SpaceX presents a draft EA for FAA approval.

To receive the licenses, SpaceX must complete a safety review and develop agreements for the license application 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 – FAA Surveys Airlines and Airports on Runway to Recovery Recommendations

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WASHINGTON The U.S. Government is surveying U.S. air carrier airports and passenger airlines to ascertain the level of implementation of recommendations for protection of passengers and employees from the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the air transportation system. Government agencies made these recommendations in, Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus, in July 2020.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in coordination with other U.S. Government agencies, is conducting the survey to assess the industrys efforts to reduce transmission of the virus during travel, restore passenger confidence, and inform future Runway to Recovery updates. The results also may reveal barriers to implementation, successes, and additional measures that may be beneficial.

The agency will survey approximately 520 domestic airports and 50 U.S. airlines and expects to receive responses by early December. The FAA will post a summary of the survey results on the U.S. Governments FlyHealthy.gov website in 2021.