Special Message from RTCA Chairman, Craig Fuller: RTCA Transition

As you are now aware from the March 23rd message sent by acting deputy administrator Carl Burleson, the relationship between RTCA and the FAA will change as of May 29th.

After 42 years of being chartered by the Federal Government as a utilized federal advisory committee, RTCA has been informed by the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that is will no longer engage RTCA for this purpose. The umbrella agreement
(Charter) under which RTCA provides Federal Advisory Committees (FAC) expires May 29, 2018. Instead of issuing a new Charter to RTCA, The DoT has indicated they plan to issue charters to the FAA to operate the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) as separate, stand-alone federal advisory committees.

As an RTCA member company and participant in RTCA committee activities, I want to thank you personally for all your work and commitment to develop consensus-based standards and policy recommendations. I can speak for the entire staff at RTCA in saying we are proud of what has been accomplished over the past several decades in advancing the modernization of the air traffic control system and in bringing into the aviation community an entirely new type of operator utilizing UAS.

The RTCA Board of Directors appreciates the close working relationship RTCA has with FAA leadership as well as with the aviation community. We will do all we can to insure a smooth transition of NAC and DAC work to the FAA offices tasked with running the committees.

While there will be questions about what comes next for the NAC and the DAC, those questions will best be answered by the FAA. When we obtain information from the FAA, we will provide a link to the appropriate website and persons at the FAA for information about the NAC and the DAC.

Looking Ahead

As indicated last week, RTCA is excited to announce that beginning May 30, 2018, RTCA will launch the RTCA Standards Development Organization to continue its 83-year stellar track record of producing timely and robust standards and guidance documents to serve as the basis for FAA regulations. We are committed to continuing this work without any gaps and working closely with the FAA to develop plans for that a smooth transition.

RTCA remains committed to working with government and industry to advance the state of aviation, encourage innovation, expand the marketplace of ideas and solution, and facilitate US leadership in a
manner that maintains the enviable safety record of aviation in the United States.

In the coming weeks, Special Committee members who are currently registered in RTCA workspace will receive a request to “opt in” to remain on the committee(s), and to update their profiles.

You and your organization reflect the unique partnership and commitment to improving the aviation system. As we move ahead as an SDO, we are enthusiastic about your role in the future successes of the aviation community.