DOT delays NPRM until Nov 2014
Long time sUAS News readers will know of the FAA miss-o-matic a countdown timer from one of the last dead lines set by the DOT for the date of the small UAS notice of proposed rule making. The counter now sits half way down the page on the right.
The important part of the NPRM for our community is the comment period. Folks interested in doing business with unmanned aircraft in America will have their say.
What were the unforeseen circumstances that require further thought? Is it the privacy requirements? At the moment the end of the comment period is set for the 5th of January 2015. The FAA will then have to process those comments, of which we predict there will be several hundred and then create the rules.They have 18 months from the end of the comment period.
Patrick and I wonder if the same FAA employees will now see this process through to the end.
Doug Davis, first manager of the Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) will speak at sUSB Expo in May, he might face some interesting questions from the floor.
Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS)
Popular Title: Small Unmanned Aircraft
RIN 2120-AJ60
Stage: NPRM
Previous Stage:None
Abstract: This rulemaking would adopt specific rules for the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems
(sUAS) in the national airspace system. These changes would address the classification of small unmanned
aircraft, certification of their pilots and visual observers, registration, approval of operations, and operational
limits in order to increase the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system. The rulemaking would
result in regular collection of safety data from the user community and aid the FAA in assessing effectiveness
of regulations to expand sUAS access to the national airspace system.
Effects:
Regulatory Flexibility Act
Information Collection
Privacy
Prompting action: Statute
Legal Deadline: Pub. L. 112-95, sec. 332(b) requires issuance of final rule 18 months after integration plan is
Rulemaking Project Initiated: 07/28/2009
Docket Number:
Explanation for any delay: Unanticipated issues requiring further analysis
Federal Register Citation for NPRM: None
http://www.dot.gov/regulations/report-on-significant-rulemakings
