The FAA is forming an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) with industry stakeholders to recommend a regulatory framework for operation of certain small unmanned aircraft systems over people. In its small UAS notice of proposed rulemaking released last year, the FAA had proposed limiting operation of small UAS over people unless the aircraft involved was a micro UAS. The proposal had outlined a “micro” UAS classification, but based on comments to that proposal, the agency decided against proceeding with the classification and instead to work further with industry and stakeholders to shape the regulatory framework. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said that rather than pursuing a micro classification, the agency will instead develop a more flexible performance-based approach to address potential hazards.
The ARC will be tasked with developing recommendations for the performance-based approach for such operations. The standards will encompass both design of aircraft and operating rules. The recommendations are due April 1, and the FAA will draft a proposed rulemaking based upon the report.
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