JARUS Appoints New Chairs, Announces Secretariat

by Scott Kesselman



The Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems, a global group of experts that recommend a single set of technical, safety and operational requirements for the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into airspace, held a meeting in Helsinki, Finland, to appoint a new chairman and vice-chairman.



Eric Sivel of the European Aviation Safety Agency was elected chairman of JARUS, signaling that EASA will play a more active role in regulation. Christopher Swider of the Federal Aviation Administration was elected as vice-chairman.



Members also voted to establish a JARUS secretariat to aid the organization at the EASA in Brussels to be headed by Mike Lissone of EUROCONTROL. 



In matters of policy, JARUS agreed on a flexible approach to operations of UAS including a guideline that the simplest remotely piloted aircraft would not be regulated at all. JARUS will also increase support for the International Civil Aviation Organization in UAS standards and interaction with industry as a result of the summit.