Archive for category: News

WASHINGTON Following the Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Pfizer, Inc.s COVID-19 vaccine, the FAA has determined that pilots may receive the vaccine under the conditions of their FAA-issued airman medical certification. FAA Air Traffic Controllers, who are subject to FAA medical clearance, may also receive the vaccine.

To maintain the highest level of safety in the National Airspace System, the agency will require aviation professionals with medical certifications or medical clearances to observe a period of 48 hours following the administration of this vaccine before conducting safety-sensitive aviation duties, such as flying or controlling air traffic.

Because the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart for maximum effectiveness, this waiting period applies after each dose.

The FAA anticipates taking no additional measures to ensure safety after the initial window for side effects closes. However, the agencys medical professionals will continuously monitor the initial distribution of the novel vaccine and documented clinical results and will adjust these recommendations as needed.

The FAA will evaluate vaccines from other manufacturers as they receive FDA authorization in the coming weeks and months and will advise pilots and air traffic controllers of any waiting periods required for those vaccines.

The FAA applies similar brief waiting periods after administration of other vaccines, including those for tuberculosis and typhoid.

The FAA encourages Americans to receive COVID-19 vaccinations as authorized by FDA. This policy announcement pertains to a specialized group of FAA-certificated professionals who perform safety-sensitive aviation duties.

For more information, please visit the Medical Certification page at faa.gov.

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:

• 3D Robotics
• Airobotics
• Amazon
• Flirtey
• Flytrex
• Matternet
• Percepto
• Telegrid
• Wingcopter
• Zipline

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.