FAA Archives

FAA Waivers for Operations Over People – Growing Opportunities

October 26, 2017 By Jennifer Trock and Graham Keithley 2 Mins Read

This month, the FAA issued a small UAS (sUAS) operating waiver that allows CNN to operate over people, including non-participants. Building on CNN’s previous waiver, this new waiver represents a growing opportunity for businesses to use drones for well-attended events.

First Drone Collision With a Commercial Aircraft Renews Safety Concerns

October 25, 2017 By Jennifer Trock, Graham Keithley and Chris Leuchten 3 Mins Read

Earlier this month, a small commercial airplane collided with an unmanned aircraft system (“UAS” or drone) during its final descent into Jean Lesage International Airport in Quebec City, Canada. After numerous near-misses, this was the first confirmed collision between a drone and a commercial aircraft in North America. The incident has renewed UAS safety and enforcement concerns, but also highlights opportunities and tools necessary to further improve the system.

Drones & Wildfires – Benefits and Risks

October 16, 2017 By Jennifer Trock and Graham Keithley 3 Mins Read

As the California wildfires grow with devastating impacts on human life, property, and business, the potential unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) benefits and risks for firefighting (re)emerge. UAS stakeholders, including firefighters, are realizing the potential life-saving and fire response applications of UAS. Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local emergency services remain on high alert for UAS that pose a risk to emergency responses.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Newton, MA Drone Ordinance on Preemption Grounds

September 21, 2017 By Jennifer Trock and Chris Leuchten 3 Mins Read

Today, a federal judge struck down a Newton, Massachusetts, ordinance regulating drone operations in the city, holding that the ordinance was preempted based on Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) regulations and federal statutes. Saying the ordinance “essentially constitutes a wholesale ban on drone use” and was an “interven[tion] in the FAA’s careful regulation of aircraft safety,” District Judge William G. Young reaffirmed the FAA’s broad jurisdiction over drones (also known as unmanned aircraft systems or “UAS”) in national airspace.

Losing Power – The Bill Attempting to Lessen FAA Control Over Low Altitude Drones

September 15, 2017 By Jennifer Trock and Chris Leuchten 3 Mins Read

As Congress considers provisions for potential inclusion in a long-term FAA Reauthorization Bill, one piece of legislation in Congress attempts to vastly redefine the relative roles of the federal and state governments. The Drone Federalism Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that would give additional authority to state and local governments to regulate UAS operations below 200 feet and potentially lessen the FAA’s control over certain drone operations.

First Meeting of New FAA’s Drone ID and Tracking Committee Brings Together UAS Heavyweights

July 25, 2017 By Jennifer Trock, Chris Leuchten and Philippine Dumoulin 2 Mins Read

Last month marked the first meeting of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS” or drones) Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (“ARC”). The ARC brought together key stakeholders to discuss regulatory issues relating to UAS ID and tracking, air traffic management for drones, and local enforcement concerns. Drone identification and tracking systems could help the FAA and the UAS industry pave the way for more flexible rules, including UAS operations over people and beyond visual line-of-sight.

The DAC is Back – July Meeting to Review FAA Priorities for 2017

July 19, 2017 By Jennifer Trock and Chris Leuchten 2 Mins Read

On July 21, the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee (“DAC”) will hold its third meeting of 2017. The virtual meeting will provide the DAC with the opportunity to respond to the FAA’s presentation from the previous meeting and move forward with the priorities of each task group.