Well done the AUVSI

Misinformation, from the highest level responded to here by the AUVSI. we had heard about the comments made by Mr Babbitt during a Washington, DC chapter event of RAeS. The USA will continue to fall behind the rest of the world in the sUAS field if this attitude is allowed to prevail at the FAA.

If I were in the USA I would think joining the AUVSI would be the first thing to do if I were starting an sUAS venture and wanting that activity to become legal some time soon.

I’m probably going to get a wrap over the knuckles for posting this here, but I think its worth it. Once again well done AUVSI.

October 27, 2010

J. Randolph Babbitt

Administrator

Federal Aviation Administration

800 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Dear Administrator Babbitt:

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community. One of our primary goals has been to work with Congress and the FAA to safely integrate UAS into the National Airspace System. Over the past year we have worked collaboratively with your staff in the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office and have held several productive discussions on the collective challenges we face.

Recently, our members brought to our attention that you made some remarks pertaining to unmanned aerial systems before an audience at a meeting hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society. We believe your statements did not reflect the most accurate understanding of the state of unmanned aircraft technology. Specifically you noted the following:

 The safety records of UAS have no place in the national airspace

 UAS often lose satellite connection and are slow to respond to commands to the ground

 UAS are wonderful machines in military theater, but are not ready for prime time

 12 out of the 14 UAS purchased by the U.S. Forest Service have crashed

The UAS industry is equally committed to the safety of the national airspace and desires to work cooperatively with the FAA to address the many concerns associated with integrating unmanned aircraft into our skies. We will be collectively successful in this pursuit only after informed discussion transpires between industry, the end users, and the regulators.

Your statements indicate that we still face a climate of mistrust and misinformation that can be extremely damaging and counterproductive to our common goal.

To this end, I invite you to meet with me and some of AUVSI’s members for an open dialogue that will provide the industry an opportunity to address your comments and understand your perspective. Please let me know your available dates in November or early December (prior to the end of the year) and I will proceed to set a time and location for the meeting.

AUVSI is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to advancing the unmanned systems community. The association represents more than 6,000 individuals from 2,100 organizations including large and small corporations, government, and academia. Our members are eager to hear from you. I hope you will take the time to provide them with more insight into your comments and to hear their concerns regarding your recent statements.

Please contact Gretchen West, Executive Vice President at west@auvsi.org, 571 255 7771 to provide your dates of availability.

Regards,

Michael Toscano

President & CEO

Cc: The Honorable Howard “Buck” McKeon

The Honorable Alan Mollohan