President Signs FAA Bill To Integrate Unmanned Vehicle Systems By 2015

President Obama has signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 2012. The bill will allow the FAA to rebuild its air traffic control system to the next generation technology which will include switching from radar to a GPS air traffic control system. The law will open up the skies to unmanned drones by September 2015.

According to AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International), major UAS provisions in the FAA bill include:

  • Setting a 30 Sept., 2015 deadline for full integration of UAS into the national airspace
  • Requiring a comprehensive integration plan within nine months
  • Requiring the FAA to create a five-year UAS roadmap (which should be updated annually)
  • Requiring small UAS (under 55 pounds) to be allowed to fly within 27 months
  • Requiring six UAS test sites within six months (similar to the language in the already-passed defense bill)
  • Requiring small UAS (under 55 pounds) be allowed to fly in the U.S. Arctic, 24 hours a day, beyond line-of-sight, at an altitude of at least 2,000 feet, within one year
  • Requiring expedited access for public users, such as law enforcement, firefighters, emergency responders
  • Allowing first responders to fly very small UAS (4.4 pounds or less) within 90 days if they meet certain requirements
  • Requiring the FAA to study UAS human factors and causes of accidents

 

 

 

Comments (0)

This post does not have any comments. Be the first to leave a comment below.


Post A Comment

You must be logged in before you can post a comment. Login now.

Featured Product

Midwest Motion Products, Inc. (MMP) - Robust. Reliable. On-time Delivery.

Midwest Motion Products, Inc. (MMP) - Robust. Reliable. On-time Delivery.

MMP is well known for our Lightning-Fast Delivery Capability, Huge On-Hand Inventory, High Volume Capacity and Time Tested and Proven Reliability Methods. Our 100+ years of combined work experience and being able to deliver continual committed service to design and engineer ideas into reality gives us a competitive advantage in the motion control industry. If you need a sample right away, we can be a project-saving convenience for you, so contact us today!!