With funding now assured under the FY 2012 Reauthorization and Reform Act, the FAA’s four-year UAV project is getting under way. But the overarching goal of achieving access to the NAS is going to require a good deal of effort, particularly on the regulatory side. It looks fairly straightforward, but in fact it can get complex and there’s a distinct possibility that some participants won’t make it by the Sept. 30, 2015 deadline.
It all boils down to the rules that are now being developed. Generally the UAV rules will mirror those for manned aircraft, and pilot licensing won’t change too much. For example, the remote pilot of a UAV and the pilot of a manned aircraft are responsible for the safe operation of their aircraft and therefore need the same knowledge of aviation law, principles of flight, knowledge of their aircraft and its performance, planning and loading, weather, navigation, operational procedures and communications. Pilots must also obtain flight instruction, demonstrate their skill, achieve a level of experience and be licensed. It is also expected that they will have to meet medical standards, although those levels have yet to be determined.
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