HANGAR TALK UNMANNED
FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has posted a rule in the Federal Register requiring small drone owners to display the FAA-issued registration number on an outside surface of the aircraft. Owners and
operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The rule went into effect on Feb. 25. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date.
When the FAA first required registration of small drones in 2015, the agency mandated that the registration marking be readily accessible and maintained in readable condition. The rule granted some flexibility by permitting the marking to be placed in an enclosed compartment, such as a battery case, if it could be accessed without the use of tools.
FLIR Systems Awarded $39.6 Million Contract for Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems for U.S. Army Soldier Borne Sensor Program
FLIR Systems Inc. has been awarded a $39.6 million order to deliver FLIR Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) in support of the United States Army. The highly capable nano-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems delivered under this contract will support platoon and small-unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) Program. The U.S. Army awarded the first SBS phase contract to FLIR in June 2018 for an initial batch of Black Hornet PRS. These systems are being delivered now to the U.S. Army for initial integration into the force.
“We are proud to be selected by the U.S. Army for the SBS Program of Record. This contract represents a significant milestone with the operational large-scale deployment of nano- UAVs into the world’s most powerful Army,” said Jim Cannon, president and CEO of FLIR Systems. “This contract is a major win for the newly established Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions business division at FLIR, and demonstrates the strong and urgent demand for nano-UAV technology offered by FLIR. Protecting U.S. warfighters with our unmanned solutions is a key objective for FLIR.”
This contract expands the use of FLIR’s Black Hornet PRS for Army surveillance and reconnaissance programs. FLIR has delivered over 8,000 Black Hornet nano-UAVs around the world. Due to the significantly increased demand for unmanned aerial system (UAS) support in the U.S., FLIR is expanding its UAS service and repairs center in Somerset, Kentucky. Deliveries will begin in early 2019. For more information about the FLIR Black Hornet PRS, please visit
www.flir.com/blackhornet.
Subsequently, law enforcement officials and the FAA’s interagency security partners have expressed concerns about the risk a concealed explosive device might pose to first responders upon opening a compartment to find a drone’s registration number. The FAA believes this action will enhance safety and security by allowing a person to view the unique identifier directly without handling the drone.
This interim final rule does not change the original acceptable methods of external marking, nor does it specify a particular external surface on which the registration number must be placed. The requirement is that it can be seen upon visual inspection of the aircraft’s exterior.
The FAA has issued this requirement as an Interim Final Rule – a rule that takes effect while also inviting public comment. The FAA issues interim final rules when delaying implementation of the rule would be impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. In this case, the agency has determined the importance of mitigating the risk to first responders outweighs the minimal inconvenience this change may impose on small drone owners, and justifies implementation without a prior public comment period.
The FAA will consider comments from the public on this Interim Final Rule, and will then review any submissions to determine if the provisions of the ultimate Final Rule should be changed. The 30-day comment period ended on March 15, 2019. To submit comments, go to
http://www.regulations.gov and search for “RIN 2120-AL32.”
As Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao promised, the FAA also posted proposed new rules to let drones fly routinely at night and over people, and to further integrate them safely into the nation’s airspace. The comment period for these proposals will end April 15.
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