Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AUVSI hosted Episode III of the UAS Symposium – Remotely Piloted Edition. Attendees heard from a range of experts about topics relevant to the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) community and the future of drone operations.
Keynote: FAA Administrator Steve Dickson Announces ARC
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
Why You Can’t Miss the FAA UAS Symposium – Episode III
Are you a drone operator? Does your business revolve around unmanned aerial systems (UAS)? Do you care about the future of drone regulations, both domestically and abroad? Do you fly UAS as a hobby? Do you write about the latest and greatest in the world of drones?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, you can’t miss the FAA UAS Symposium scheduled for later this week - Wednesday, June 9 and Thursday, June 10. This first installment of 2021 will occur virtually, so feel free to tune in on the beach, in the mountains, while walking your dog, or sitting at home with coffee in hand.
The agenda includes:
Integrating Urban Air Mobility toward assured autonomy
New technologies start in the research stage and undergo experimentation before becoming operationalized – and unmanned and autonomous systems are no exception. While small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), like drones, have reached the final stage, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology is still in the research and experimentation phases.
FAA’s Remote ID Rule Will Enable Drone Integration
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented new regulations addressing the remote identification of drones and drone operations over people and at night. The rules make critical steps toward assured autonomy by enabling more complex UAS uses, which will ultimately lead to more drone deliveries, public safety operations, and infrastructure inspections.
During today’s XPONENTIAL 2021 sessions, AUVSI hosted a panel of leading experts who were involved in the rulemaking process. Their discussion on next steps and standardization demonstrated why AUVSI approaches public policy under the umbrella of three principles: safety and security, government-industry collaboration, and performance-based regulations.
Safety, policy, and integration intertwine in UAS spectrum use
As more unmanned aerial systems (UAS) enter the airspace and take on increasingly advanced operations, concerns about preserving spectrum and improving coordination have also grown. During today’s XPONENTIAL 2021 breakout sessions, attendees heard insights on spectrum policy from a panel of experts, including representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the unmanned systems industry.
Panelists’ comments made clear that the use of spectrum by drone operators touches on all three pillars of assured autonomy: prioritizing system safety, supporting sound public policy, and enabling the seamless integration of unmanned systems.
DOT's Robert Hampshire Discusses Assured Autonomy
The virtual segment of AUVSI’s annual XPONENTIAL event, the world’s largest conference focused on the unmanned systems industry, launched today with a keynote address by Robert Hampshire, PhD. As Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief Science Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Dr. Hampshire possesses deep expertise in both public policy and engineering systems. His research has focused on infrastructure issues around environmental impacts and equal access to opportunities. In his remarks, Dr. Hampshire shared DOT’s priorities under the new Administration for the years ahead and how unmanned systems fit into those priorities.
UNMANNED SYSTEMS DEFENSE PHASE I: AIR
AUVSI today hosted Day Two of the 2021 Unmanned Systems Defense (USD) Conference with a focus on systems and technologies within the air domain. Attendees heard insights from Christopher C. O’Donnell, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition; Major Ryan Greenawalt, Future Unmanned Aircraft System Integrator, Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team; and Rear Admiral Brian Corey, Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons.
Guest Post - What Airspace Management Should Look Like
On a clear day from my home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the airspace above our heads has an unobstructed view to the southwest filled with a brilliant azure blue sky. As the sun begins to set in the west and the sky takes on a reddish hue, a choreographed dance of airplane contrails fills our view above 18,000’, with a series of long vapor trails clearly separated by the same horizontal distance. This is the evening departure flow from the metropolitan New York City Airports traveling along established navigable Jet Routes (J6, J48, Q430 and Q480) to destinations scattered across the southwest United States within Class A airspace.
Mitigating UAS Disruptions at Airports
An unmanned aerial vehicle spotted at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, NC on March 9 caused operational difficulties, delayed flights, and raised concerns of gaps in security. Law enforcement agencies are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the drone operator, with the FBI calling the incident an “illegal intrusion.” This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and disruptions will likely continue to occur the federal government takes action to allow airports, and trained law enforcement, to detect and mitigate unauthorized UAS incursions.
Drone Federalism is the Wrong Move
A safe national airspace (NAS) is critical to American commerce, travel, and national security. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has been directed by the U.S. Congress to control and actively manage our skies, which they have done admirably throughout the years. In fact, many nations look to American airspace management practices with envy, as our aviation record and dedication to safe skies speaks for itself.