U.S. FAA Called to Expedite UAS Rulemaking

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The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) joined 31 other organizations in urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expedite its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regulating the use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in U.S. airspace.

The two groups also called on the FAA to allow the limited use of small UAS for commercial purposes before the final rulemaking is completed.

Earlier, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and Chief Executive Officer Marion C. Blakey and Consumer Electronics Association President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Shapiro approached FAA Aministrator Michael P. Huerta to urge that he give “expedited consideration and approval of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regulating the safe use of small unmanned aircraft systems in US airspace.”

The co-signees to the letter include a broad array of organizations and industries, from agriculture to real estate to photography, that recognize the benefits of UAS. Meanwhile, the effort represents the first time stakeholders from both the manned and unmanned aviation communities are coming together to press for a regulatory framework for UAS.

iHLS – Israel Homeland Security

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the Helicopters Association International are among the letter’s co-signees.

According to HS Today In addition to expediting the UAS rulemaking, the organizations urged the FAA to use its congressional authority to allow some limited UAS operations right away.

“We recommend the FAA use all available means, including Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, to allow for some limited UAS operations, subject to the Secretary of Transportation’s safety determination, before the small UAS rule is finalized,” the letter stated.