FAA Tweets Suggest Airworthiness Certification for UAS in the U.S

Patrick Egan

The cat may have inadvertently been let out of the satchel about UAS airworthiness and certification on twitter. There are also some indications that the small rule is being redrafted. Again, while these iterations are made the small business guy is sitting on the sideline. I have expressed multiple concerns over the years about any aircraft certification or pilot certification process that was too onerous for small business. I was assured that the small businessperson would be considered. However, there is concern as the “public” and small business stakeholder has not been part of the process for some time. Years have ticked by, and we have nothing to show for representation.

Occurrences like these of hiding information suggest that there is ample cause for concern and only further undermines the public trust in the UAS rulemaking process.

Lets hope this doesn’t mean that we need to start building Raven type aircraft. A petition is in the works to hopefully end the DoD vendor controlled, and apparent FAA sanctioned disenfranchisement of the “public” and small business end-user.

Developing

Patrick Egan

Editor in Field, sUAS News Americas Desk | Patrick Egan is the editor of the Americas Desk at sUAS News and host and Executive Producer of the sUAS News Podcast Series, Drone TV and the Small Unmanned Systems Business Exposition. Experience in the field includes assignments with the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Battle Lab investigating solutions on future warfare research projects. Instructor for LTA (Lighter Than Air) ISR systems deployment teams for an OSD, U.S. Special Operations Command, Special Surveillance Project. Built and operated commercial RPA prior to 2007 FAA policy clarification. On the airspace integration side, he serves as director of special programs for the RCAPA (Remote Control Aerial Photography Association).