newstodate.aero
SEP 22, 2005 (newstodate): The US military and civilian use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has grown to an extent forcing FAA to develop new policies, procedures and approval processes to safebuard air safety.
Some of the research and development activities already being performed support law enforcement, homeland security, firefighting, weather prediction and tracking.
Some UAVs have the size and wingspan of a Boeing 737, others are the size of a small model aircraft, but air safety is involved in either case.
-It is critical that these vehicles do not come too close to aircraft carrying people or compromise the safety of anyone on the ground, says FAA.
When the military or a government agency wants to fly a UAV in civil airspace, the FAA examines the request and issues a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization.
This COA is based on certain principles including specification of duration of use of airspace, coordinatoin with ATC, and monitoring by a ground operator or a "chase aircraft".
Some of the research and development activities already being performed support law enforcement, homeland security, firefighting, weather prediction and tracking.
Some UAVs have the size and wingspan of a Boeing 737, others are the size of a small model aircraft, but air safety is involved in either case.
-It is critical that these vehicles do not come too close to aircraft carrying people or compromise the safety of anyone on the ground, says FAA.
When the military or a government agency wants to fly a UAV in civil airspace, the FAA examines the request and issues a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization.
This COA is based on certain principles including specification of duration of use of airspace, coordinatoin with ATC, and monitoring by a ground operator or a "chase aircraft".