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We would like to thank everyone who was able to join us for the live presentation of the latest Aviation Webinar Series, “Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft and Flight Over People – The Final Rules.”

We are gratified by the huge turnout and positive feedback we have received.  There were several questions from the audience that we could not address due to the time constraints. … Read More

The FAA has kept its word.  As promised, the FAA has released the final versions of its rules for Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft, for Flight of UAS Over People, and for UAS Night Operations.  These rulemakings represent an important step towards routine flight beyond visual line of sight and full integration of UAS into the National Airspace System.

The Remote ID Rule

The Remote ID proposal was the most controversial of the new rules, and garnered the most public comments. … Read More

The long awaited COVID-19 relief bill has finally arrived from Congress.  Weighing in at an impressive 5,593 pages, it contains at least some of the assistance the aviation industry has been asking for since the summer.

First and foremost among these is continuation of the Payroll Support Program started under the CARES Act.  Section 402 of the new law allocates $15 billion for airlines and $1 billion for aviation contractors. … Read More

Virtually all Americans know that the FAA regulates air carrier safety in the United States.  However, most Americans are unaware that the Department of Transportation also maintains oversight of air carrier operations through a robust set of economic regulations.  According to a newly released Information for Operators (InFO), the FAA is concerned that a number of direct air carriers are also unaware of some of these economic regulations.… Read More

Earlier this week, the FAA issued its Updated Interim Occupational Health and Safety Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews.  The updated Guidance continues to urge that crewmembers who exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 cease work, and only return after they meet the CDC’s criteria for Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings.  Similarly, the FAA also recommends that crewmembers with known exposure to COVID-19 not work until 14 days after the last potential exposure.… Read More

Back in 2018, the Congress tasked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) with studying the role that state and local governments should play in the regulation of unmanned aircraft and the lower levels of the National Airspace System.  After nearly two years of work, the GAO has finally issued its report.  The report contains a compilation of the current state of the law regarding privacy, federal preemption, property owners’ rights in the airspace over their land, and related topics, and is supported by a detailed 143-page appendix. … Read More

In a long awaited move, the interagency working group responsible for coordinating drone defense policy has issued guidance to the public about what they can and cannot do to combat unauthorized drone use.  The guidance, issued jointly by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), covers the application of federal criminal laws, aviation safety laws, transportation and airport security laws, and radio frequency and communication spectrum issues to drone defense.… Read More

A growing number of nations have been successfully, but slowly, pushing both the technological and regulatory boundaries of advanced UAS operations.  These national pilot programs have taken the first steps towards beyond visual line of sight operations, package delivery and flight over people.  However, as Earl Lawrence confirmed at the AUVSI/FAA symposium the other day, the key to turning these complex operations into routine operations is a certificated unmanned aircraft.… Read More

One of the great innovations of the Part 107 regulations for unmanned aircraft was the ability to obtain a waiver from many of its more restrictive requirements.  The Part 107 waiver process allows operators the flexibility to fly at night, fly beyond visual line of sight, or operate more than one drone at the same time.

Unfortunately, most waivers have an expiration date of 48 months. … Read More

While many states are currently “open for business” to one degree or another, COVID-19 has stubbornly refused to release its hold in some areas.  As a result, while progress is being made, we clearly are not “back to normal.”

In light of this, government agencies that relaxed regulatory requirements at the beginning of the crisis, including the FAA, are beginning to extend these accommodations. … Read More