Reprint of an AIN article:
Widesweeping UAS Provisions in New FAA Law
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that President Trump signed into law on Friday includes key provisions that are aimed at increasing safety and awareness within the recreational drone community, gives law enforcement virtual carte blanche to react immediately to any perceived drone threat, and lays the foundations for mandatory drone registration and identification and the development of the domestic drone package delivery industry.
It immediately repeals the Section 336 exemption for model aircraft, which allowed recreational drone operators to fly without obtaining an operators certificate. Under the law, recreational operators will now need to take an online tutorial to be developed by the FAA within six months and continue to register their aircraft and adhere to the current restrictions on recreational operations, including daylight-only flights no higher than 400 agl and not beyond visual line of sight.
The law also directs the FAA, FCC, and others to report on whether UAS operations should be permitted to use previously recommended L-band and C-band frequencies for operations within or outside the UAS traffic management system. Further, it requires the FAA to create a public database of UAS registrations, waiver of authorizations, and location and description of public operations. Significantly, the act also directs the FAA, within one year, to develop a small UAS air carrier certificate, certification process, and classification—a precursor to drone package delivery service.
Widesweeping UAS Provisions in New FAA Law
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that President Trump signed into law on Friday includes key provisions that are aimed at increasing safety and awareness within the recreational drone community, gives law enforcement virtual carte blanche to react immediately to any perceived drone threat, and lays the foundations for mandatory drone registration and identification and the development of the domestic drone package delivery industry.
It immediately repeals the Section 336 exemption for model aircraft, which allowed recreational drone operators to fly without obtaining an operators certificate. Under the law, recreational operators will now need to take an online tutorial to be developed by the FAA within six months and continue to register their aircraft and adhere to the current restrictions on recreational operations, including daylight-only flights no higher than 400 agl and not beyond visual line of sight.
The law also directs the FAA, FCC, and others to report on whether UAS operations should be permitted to use previously recommended L-band and C-band frequencies for operations within or outside the UAS traffic management system. Further, it requires the FAA to create a public database of UAS registrations, waiver of authorizations, and location and description of public operations. Significantly, the act also directs the FAA, within one year, to develop a small UAS air carrier certificate, certification process, and classification—a precursor to drone package delivery service.