New Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Rules For Commercial Use Is imminent
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a monthly update of proposed rulemaking to release the long-awaited Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) rules this week. These rules, for the commercial us of sUAS, UAVs, or drones, had an original 2011 publication date. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) then moved the new commercial sUAV rules publication date to last year and missed that target as well. The new US DOT projected publication date for commercial use of sUAV is now January 30, 2015.
The Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Rules Abstract:
This rulemaking would adopt specific rules for the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) in the national airspace system. These changes would address small unmanned aircraft registration and marking, certification of their airmen, and operational requirements and limitations in order to increase the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system.
Once published, the new rules for commercial use of sUAS will begin a two month comment period.
Comments
4 responses to “US DOT To Release Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Rules This Week”
Hi Eric – Can you shed any light as to how these rules interact with the long awaited FAA rules?
The rules due to be published tomorrow (hopefully) are the first to permit and regulate the use of small UAS, UAVs or drones for commercial purposes by the FAA. I’m sure these rules will only be a starting point, with the FAA refining and adding to them over the course of the next several years, but at least the use of this technology could be carried out by and planned for by commercial users.
Hi Eric – thnx for getting back to me. I downloaded the document attached to the article which is exactly what you quoted and no more. Since the proposed end of the comment period is as you noted 3/15, I still don’t understand how this works with the FAA ruling that is expected in 2017. In fact I wrote the DOT attorney listed on the web page to ask. This seems to be very stealth right now, you are the only story I saw that even mentioned it – good for you. Needless to say, I am curious to see what happens.
Hi Chris, I just posted some breaking news today about a leaked FAA document suggesting less burdensome and maybe imminent commercial drone rules here >> https://ericcolburn.com/commercial-drone-regulations-reportedly-poised-for-faa-approval/