FAA Predicts ‘Phased’ Approach for UAS Integration



By Brett Davis



The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will be able to demonstrate the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System by its congressionally mandated deadline of 30 Sept., 2015, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said Wednesday, but “I believe it’s going to be staged” instead of all at once.



Huerta made his first appearance before Congress since the FAA announced the selection of six UAS test sites across the country in late December, testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.



Senators expressed concerns about safety and privacy, but also discussed the expected economic benefits that would come with the test sites and eventual integration.



Appearing alongside Huerta were Mary “Missy” Cummings, director of Duke University’s Humans and Autonomy Laboratory, who said that other countries, such as Japan and the United Kingdom, are ahead of the United States when it comes to allowing the commercial use of unmanned systems. 



Although Cummings said she applauds the “very late” test site selection, the U.S. is actually “is not leading; it’s lagging.”



Henio Arcangeli, vice president of corporate planning and new business development for Yamaha Motor Co., makers of the RMAX unmanned helicopter, represents one of those areas, as its helicopter has the bulk of the business for aerial crop spraying in Japan.



He also appeared before the committee and said the company is now hearing demand from the United States for its services, which can be performed more effectively and inexpensively than with manned aircraft for some tasks.



Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the committee, said he recognizes the commercial potential of UAS but has concerns over both privacy and safety.



Cummings said the safety record for UAS has improved drastically in recent years, thanks to a concerted military effort to improve it and other advances. It’s to the point where unmanned military aircraft are now safer than their military counterparts and are “25 percent safer to fly than general aviation aircraft.”



Chris Calabrese, legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the ACLU recognizes the upside of greater UAS use but also fears a potential downside, that their inexpensive nature and high-quality video abilities will erode privacy.



He did note that there are a variety of state laws protecting privacy that would apply to surveillance by unmanned aircraft, although the ACLU would still like more restrictions before their widespread use.



Sen. Roger Wicker asked when FAA will act on another congressional commission, that of setting up an academic center of excellence for unmanned aircraft. Huerta said now that the test site selection is complete, the FAA will turn to that test, with a selection “within the next federal fiscal year.”