Are they safe to fly?
THE DRONES ARE COMING!
MIKE BRODERICK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Actually, the drones are here! Over 2,000,000 are
registered as of this writing and the FAA expects there will be nearly 4,000,000 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in the US by the end of 2020. And all 4,000,000 sharing the air space with an estimated 219,000 manned aircraft. This small, airborne recreational fascination that has barged into our industry obviously presents a far-reaching and interesting challenge to the managed environment of the National Airspace System (NAS). And now that they are here, are they safe to fl y? Let’s see! So, before I drone on about quality and maintenance
oversight as well as the safe operations of the sUAS, let’s clarify what distinguishes a UAS from a “manned” aircraft and a UAS from an sUAS. This will then lead to a discussion about the creation of Part 107 as well as the subject of “Airworthiness” as it applies to the sUAS. So, it looks like we have a lot to talk about — let’s get after it! First, the defi nition of a basic Unmanned Aircraft System.
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HelicopterMaintenanceMagazine.com February | March 2020
The UAS: The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) means any aircraft operated without the possibility of direct human (pilot in a cockpit aka Manned Aircraft) intervention from within or on the aircraft. Next the sUAS: A Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) is defi ned as a UAS weighing between .55 pounds and 55 pounds including its associated elements (for example the communication links and the components that control the small unmanned aircraft) that are required for the safe and effi cient operation of the small unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system. And the motivation for FAA involvement? With the utilization of the sUAS reaching Critical Mass (2,000,000 +), the need for peremptory governing from the FAA of sUAS operations became imperative. Therefore, in June of 2016 the FAA added Part 107 to title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) in accompaniment with an explanatory Advisory Circular (AC)107.2. Part 107 addresses basic fl ight rules, pilot certifi cation requirements and sUAS registration procedures. The companion Advisory Circular, AC107.2, provides guidance and recommendations for the Part 107 rules.
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