GPS World

Tag: Drone Pilot

  • FAA: Access to controlled airspaces advances drone, aviation safety

    FAA: Access to controlled airspaces advances drone, aviation safety

    Photo: RyanKing999/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Photo: RyanKing999/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made it easier for drone pilots to quickly and safely access controlled airspace by adding 133 air traffic facilities to the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system. The expansion is based on feedback from the drone community.

    LAANC is an automated application and approval system for drone pilots requesting to fly below 400 feet in controlled airspace.

    As the FAA continues to modernize the national airspace to accommodate more users, the agency made LAANC accessible for 726 airports and 537 facilities, covering 81% of eligible airspace.

    LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry which directly supports the safe integration of drones into the nation’s airspace. The service is accessible to all pilots who operate under the FAA’s small drone rule.

  • FAA adds two more webinars on new pilot program

    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is hosting two more webinars to discuss its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program.

    Each webinar provides an overview of the program, the application process, and the specific criteria and deadlines that companies and research groups will be required to meet. Registration is required; only register for one session as they cover the same content.

    • Tuesday, Nov. 21, 12–1:15 p.m. EST
    • Monday, Nov. 27, 12–1:15 p.m. EST

    The pilot program was launched Nov. 2 to foster innovation and advances the integration of UAS into United States’ airspace to ensure U.S. global leadership in the emerging UAS industry.

    “There’s already been tremendous interest in the program and more than 4300 people registered to attend our online webinars to learn how they can participate,” the FAA UAS Integration Office said in a statement. “It’s facilitating partnerships between state, local, and tribal government entities and private industry to gather operational and other data from advanced operational concepts, such as flights over people and package delivery. The results from the program will help to inform the development of future enabling regulations that will expand safe UAS operations and help to transition many of the new and novel operational concepts that we manage today by exception into routine, commonplace aspects of our everyday lives.”

    Details about applying, timelines, and requirements are at FAA.gov/Go/DronePilot. Those interested can also subscribe to receive email updates from the FAA’s UAS webpage.