News and Updates – FAA Adds More Space Launch Activity Areas to Pilot Navigation Charts

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is increasing pilot safety and airspace awareness by marking more space launch activity areas on navigation charts.

Adding space launch activity areas to the navigation charts used by pilots who fly visually responds to the recent and expected continued growth of commercial space operations. All 12 FAA-licensed spaceports, and other federal and private launch and reentry sites, are represented on the charts by a rocket symbol. These areas are in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

Pilots can download the free charts and reference the FAA Aeronautical Chart Users Guide for more information. In addition, the FAA encourages pilots to check the NOTAM database for any Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) issued to divert air traffic from where space operations are scheduled.

In 2020, the FAA licensed 41 commercial space launchesandreentries, the most in the agencys history. For 2021, that number could reach 50 or more. Pilots also need to be aware of NASA, military and other government launches that the FAA does not license.

To learn more about how the FAA safely and efficiently integrates commercial space operations in the National Airspace System, please listen to the Ticket to Space episode of the agencys The Air Up There podcast.

News and Updates – Mark Your Calendar: 2021 FAA UAS Symposium

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) will co-host Episodes III and IV of the virtual FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Symposium Remotely Piloted Edition.The theme for this years virtual event is Above and Beyond and will take place on June 9-10, 2021, and September 14-15, 2021.

Register now to join the conversation as experts from industry, academia, international aviation authorities, and the U.S. government discuss key areas for the future of the drone community including the operations over people rule, remote identification, airspace authorizations, waivers, the part 107 small UAS rule, changes in hobbyists drone operations, and other policies and regulations.

Last year, the symposium went virtual with a two-part event Drones. Here for Good. Episodes I and II focused on UAS traffic management, global harmonization, the UAS Integration Pilot Program and public safety operations.

This year Episode III, scheduled for June 9-10, will concentrate on international operations, STEM, public safety operations, recreational drone operations, and commercial drone operations. Episode IV is scheduled for September 14-15 with a focus on UAS traffic management, technology, the BEYOND program, advanced air mobility, and international operations. Each episode will feature keynote presentations, expert panels, guided and non-guided networking discussions, one-on-one meetings with experts in the FAA UAS Support Center, and informational sessions with live Q&A.

Visit the symposium website to get updates on event programming and registration.