FAA Low Altitude Manned Aviator Participation In UAS Remote Identification RFI
As part of ongoing integration efforts, the FAA is committed to creating streamlined and scalable processes to address operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the national airspace.
To address the need for consistent and predictable responses to airspace authorization requests, the FAA developed the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC). LAANC automates the airspace authorizations process for small UAS and provides awareness to the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization of planned UAS operations at low altitudes.
While LAANC helps to provide basic situational awareness of UAS operations in controlled airspace, the FAA and federal security partners look to Remote Identification (Remote ID) requirements in order to be able to identify and know the locations of a UAS operating in the National Airspace System (NAS), particularly in areas of heightened security risk or in response to specific threats, in an airspace precisely and quickly.
The FAA recently released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Remote Identification for UAS; the comment period for the NPRM closed on March 02, 2020. Responses to this RFI will not be included in the official docket of the NPRM. One critical element of implementing Remote ID will be establishing a cooperative data exchange mechanism between the FAA and the Remote ID UAS Service Suppliers USS.
The FAA is proposing to implement the remote identification requirements in a way that will allow the marketplace to grow in collaboration with the FAA. The FAA anticipates that USS roles and services will continue to expand and may include services that will provide value for the manned aviation community.
The Remote ID NPRM does not specifically address the means by which low altitude manned aviators, such as aerial applicators and helicopter pilots (including public safety and medical transport), could participate in Remote ID, access data from the Remote ID USSs, or otherwise benefit from the Remote ID information being transmitted from UAS.
This RFI seeks input from the manned aviation community regarding whether and/or how they can potentially receive and use UAS remote ID information to further enhance safety, by reducing collision risks at lower altitudes. 2. Objectives for this RFI As a result of this RFI, the FAA will collect information for how manned aircraft pilots can voluntarily participate in or otherwise benefit from UAS Remote Identification information.
The purpose for this RFI is twofold:
1. Learn how manned aircraft can receive and use the network or broadcast UAS Remote Identification information.
2. Engage low altitude manned aviators and other parties who are interested in exploring how UAS Remote ID can improve safety and reduce collision risk between UAS and manned aircraft at low altitudes.
RFI General Background This public announcement is being issued in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Acquisition Management System Section 3.2.1.2.1. Interested parties are advised that: 3.1.
This is not a Screening Information Request (SIR) or Request for Proposal (RFP); 3.2. The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals
Responses must be received by the Contracting Officer, Kristin Frantz by email at Kristin.T.Frantz@faa.gov no later than 3:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, April 16, 2020. 4.4. Responses to this RFI should be complete and demonstrate understanding, capability, and commitment, not merely describe the respondent’s opinion. 3 4.5. Responses should address each of the questions in Section 6 Topics, and may also address other topics, as determined by the responder.
