It’s official scrap 2015 for UAS integration in the USA

Hinted at a couple of times in the last week Congress has given the FAA more time, interestingly the Pirker case is sighted as one of the reasons! Speaking two weeks ago at sUSB Expo Jim Williams of the UASIO mentioned the introduction of limited low risk operations was being considered but did not commit to detail.

This delay will no doubt delight DoD vendors who are beginning to place their products in the frame but are not quite there yet.

The NPRM is still being spoken of for November but again, perhaps there is less of a rush now.

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-113-hr-fy2015-thud.pdf

Page 17:

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
-The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 directed the FAA to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System by 2015. However, it is uncertain when the FAA can integrate UAS into the Nation’s airspace and what will be required to achieve the goal. The lack of an overall framework for the new systems may be inhibiting progress on UAS integration. The Committee is concerned that the FAA may not be well positioned to manage effectively the introduction of UAS in the United States, particularly in light of a recent ruling by a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) administrative judge regarding the use of a small UAS for commercial purposes. Given these challenges, the Committee has provided an additional $3,000,000 in the Aviation Safety Activity to expedite the integration of UAS into commercial airspace.