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News and Updates – FAA Updates DroneZone

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WASHINGTON Upgrades to the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) DroneZone now

allows recreational flyers to request airspace authorizations in controlled airspace where the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is not available.

Airspace authorizations can take up to 45 days to process and approve through the DroneZone.

Recreational flyers may request to fly up to the designated altitude ceiling in an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Facility Map (UASFM) and only for daytime operations.

LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and industry that directly supports the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the nation’s airspace, expediting the time it takes for drone pilots to receive authorizations to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace.

News and Updates – Think Drone Safety As We Share the Sky

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is encouraging the drone community to help spread the word on drone safety with the first National Drone Safety Awareness Week taking place, Nov. 4-10, 2019. The FAAs highest priority is to ensure the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS), and during National Drone Safety Awareness Week, the FAA reminds drone pilots and stakeholders that airspace safety is everyones responsibility.

During this weeklong campaign, key sectors of the drone community local governments, municipalities and recreational flyers will highlight their work on drones, engage the public in activities related to drones, and kick off new safety initiatives. As we integrate drones into the NAS, the FAA wants to do all that it can to ensure that these new operators are familiar with and adhere to the safety culture. Leading up to National Drone Safety Awareness Week, the FAA will provide leadership and support with downloadable materials from the FAA website.

Stakeholders will do their part by holding events that engage and educate the general community about drones.

Key sectors have a specific day of the week to focus on their area of interest or expertise:

  • Monday: Public Safety and Security
  • Tuesday: Business Photography, Real Estate, Insurance
  • Wednesday: Business Infrastructure and Agriculture
  • Thursday: Business Commercial and Medical Package Delivery
  • Friday: Education and STEM
  • Saturday and Sunday: Recreational Flyers

The FAA has provided guidance in the form of a Stakeholder Playbook for participants of National Drone Safety Awareness Week and graphics designed for each key sector:

For additional information, visit faa.gov/go/DroneWeek or email DroneSafetyWeek@faa.gov.

News and Updates – New York City Flight Restrictions September 21-29 During UN General Assembly

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General aviation pilots who are planning to fly in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area between September 21 and September 29 should check frequently and before every flight to make sure they are aware of the flight restrictions that will be in place for the 74thSession of the United Nations General Assembly.

Knowing the rules will help operators avoid airspace violations.

The FAA is also advising drone pilots that the airspace within the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area will be a No DroneZone at the same time. Operators may not fly their drones within that airspace while the TFR is in effect. The FAA, federal law enforcement agencies and the Department of Defense will closely monitor the airspace for unauthorized operations. They may take action against drones operating in the No DroneZone that are deemed a credible safety or security threat. Pilots who operate drones within the TFR also will be subject to possible enforcement action.

The TFR starts at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Saturday, September 21, and ends at 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, September 29. The FAA strongly advises pilots to check regularly for Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) since the FAA expects to issue numerous notices at different times during the period that the TFR is in effect. It is essential for pilots to check regularly in order to have the most current information before their flights.

During this period, no pilot may operate an aircraft within the TFR unless authorized by FAA air traffic control, except for law enforcement, air ambulance and aircraft that are directly supporting the Secret Service and regularly scheduled commercial passenger and cargo carriers operating under an approved Transportation Security Administration security program.

General aviation aircraft cannot operate within the center or inner ring of the TFR. Aircraft operating under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules may operate within the outer ring of the TFR as long as they are on a flight plan, displaying an aircraft identifier code and are in two-way communication with air traffic control.

Pilots should check NOTAMS frequently, especially before their flights. Drone operators must stay away from the No DroneZone.

News and Updates – FAA, UAS Partners Complete Successful Demos

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA and their partners in a pilot program that is laying the groundwork for an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) traffic management system successfully demonstrated how such a system can work in the future.

The demonstrations, conducted at three separate test sites selected by the FAA for the UAS Traffic Management Pilot Program (UPP), showed that multiple, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations can be safely conducted at low altitudes (below 400 feet) in airspace where FAA air traffic services are not provided.

As demand for low altitude drone use increases, the FAA, NASA and the UPP partners are working together to accommodate these operations safely and efficiently.

In January, the FAA selected three UPP test sites: the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (VT MAAP), the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) in Grand Forks, N.D., and the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) in Las Vegas, Nev.

  • The first demonstration, which involved the VT MAAP, took place at Virginia Tech on June 13.

    During the demonstration, separate drone flights delivered packages, studied wildlife, surveyed a corn field and covered a court case for TV. Because the flights were near an airport, all four flight plans were submitted through a service supplier and received approval to launch as planned.

    While these flights were being conducted, an emergency helicopter needed to quickly transport a car crash victim to a hospital. The helicopter pilot submitted a request for a UAS Volume Reservation (UVR)an alert used to notify nearby drone operators of the emergency.

    The deliveries were re-routed until the UVR was completed. The wildlife study, field survey and court coverage continued safely away from the helicopters path.

    Each operation was conducted without conflict.

  • The second demonstration, which involved the Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS), took place in Grand Forks on July 10.

    During the demonstration, which occurred near an airport, a photographer and Part 107 drone operator took photos of firefighter training. An aviation student at the University of North Dakota used a drone to scan for the best tailgating location. Another Part 107 operator, employed at the electric company, used a drone to assess power line damage after recent strong winds.

    The two Part 107 operators submitted flight plans due to their proximity to an airport, receiving proper approvals. During their flights, they received a UVR alert that a medevac helicopter was transporting a patient to the hospital from the firefighter training area. The operator taking photos of the training landed the drone before the UVR notice became active. The power line survey and the flight over the tailgate area continued at a safe distance.

  • The third, which involved the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS), took place in Las Vegas on August 1.

    During the demonstration, separate UAS flights were conducted to survey a golf course before a tournament, get video footage of a property being sold, and scan a nearby lake for boating opportunities.

    All three operators accessed UAS Facility Maps and worked with a UAS Service Supplier (USS) to receive the proper approvals to conduct their flights.

    A fire erupted at one of the golf course clubhouses. First responders sent a helicopter to contain the fire. They submitted a request to a USS to create a UVR. The UVR information is also shared with the FAA. The FAA shares the information with public portals, notifying each of the UAS operators that the firefighting helicopter was on its way to their flying area.

    Each of the UAS operators, being properly notified, were able to either land or continue their operations at a safe distance.

The UPP was established in April 2017 as an important component for identifying the initial set of industry and FAA capabilities required to support UAS Traffic Management operations. The analysis of results from the demonstrations will provide an understanding of the level of investment required for each stakeholder’s implementation.

The results from the UPP will provide a proof of concept for UAS Traffic Management capabilities currently in research and development, and will provide the basis for initial deployment of UTM capabilities.

Ultimately, the FAA will define the UTM regulatory framework that third-party providers will operate within.

Check out our video about the UPP demonstrations.

News and Updates – FAA Update on Hurricane Dorian

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is monitoring Hurricane Dorian closely and preparing FAA facilities and equipment along the southeast coast of Florida to withstand potential damage so flights can quickly resume after the storm passes. Restoring air carrier service is critical to support disaster relief efforts.

Travelers

Airlines make decisions about their flight schedules. Flights can stop long before winds reach hurricane strength. Travelers should check with their airlines before heading to the airport for a flight to or from the southeast coast of Florida. The FAA does not direct or advise airlines about cancelling flights.

Airports in the area of potential impact make decisions about closing their facilities. In many cases, airports remain open and do not officially close even when flights have stopped. The FAA does not direct or advise airports to open or close.

The FAA maintains air traffic control radar coverage and provides service to flights for as long as possible. FAA control towers in hurricane-prone areas are designed and built to sustain hurricane force winds. Each control tower has a maximum wind sustainability, which can range from 55 to 75 miles per hour. When winds approach those speeds, controllers evacuate the tower cabs. At busy airports controllers remain in the building at a secure lower level, and are ready to go back to work as soon as the storm passes.

Ahead of the storm, FAA technicians protect communications equipment and navigational aids to the greatest extent possible to enable flights to resume quickly after the storm passes. FAA technicians test engine generators and ensure they are fully fueled so they can power equipment and facilities if commercial power fails. We switch to engine generator power before the storm in anticipation of commercial power failures.

After the storm, we assess damage to FAA facilities and navigational aids. We set priorities to quickly re-establish critical equipment. The FAA has equipment, supplies and people ready to move into the affected areas as soon as the storm passes to restore air traffic control facilities that may be damaged by Hurricane Dorian. Teams of technicians and engineers from other locations travel to the affected areas to assess damage and begin restoring equipment and facilities working closely with the local technical teams.

General Aviation Pilots

Standard checklists are even more important in and around severe weather. Be aware of weather conditions throughout the entire route of your planned flight. A pilots failure to recognize deteriorating weather conditions continues to cause or contribute to accidents. Be sure to check NOTAMs, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), and Aircraft Safety Alerts before you go.

Check out the FAAs Hurricane Preparedness Guidance.

Drone Users

Drone users should check NOTAMs and TFRs and avoid flying in areas where drones are prohibited.

Drone pilots must comply with FAA rules and should:

  1. Avoid flying in the area unless conducting an active disaster response or recovery mission.
  2. Be aware that the FAA might issue a TFR in the affected area. Be sure to check for active TFRs if you plan to fly.
  3. Remember that you cannot fly inside a TFR without FAA approval.

Drone emergency operations and response:

  • During a natural disaster, do not fly your drone in or around emergency response efforts, unless you have special authorization to do so. There are low flying aircraft as part of the storm response mostly in low visibility areas. If you are flying, emergency response operations cannot.
  • You may be able to get expedited approval to operate in the TFR through the FAAs Special Governmental Interest(SGI) process as outlined inFAA Order JO 7200.23A. Submit an Emergency Operation Request Form with your existing Remote Pilot Certificate or existing Certification of Authorization (COA) and send to the FAA’s System Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 9-ator-hq-sosc@faa.gov.

Dont Be That Guy!

Be aware that significant penalties that may exceed $20,000 if drone operators interfere with emergency response operations. Flying a drone without authorization in or near the disaster area may violate federal, state, or local laws and ordinances, even if aTFR is not in place. Allow first responders to save lives and property without interference.

If you are not certified as a remote pilot or do not already hold a COA, you cannot fly.

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