sUAS Certification – A Proposal

sUAS Business Exposition

May 8, 2014

Doug Davis, Director of Airworthiness

Cleared for Public Release

Agenda

•  Certification for sUAS – A proposal……

•  How about the rest?

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Definition of Airworthiness – An Aircraft complies with it’s approved Type Design and it’s in a safe state of operation

Certification of sUAS – A proposal

•  Certify? –  Not in the traditional sense of Airworthiness –  Make it an Operational Approval

•  What then? –  A Risk assessment based on:

•  Weight •  Operational environment •  Crew expertise •  Frangibility

•  How? –  Web-based –  Submit a picture…then what about changes? –  Provide proof of insurance –  Agree to comply with operational limitations, e.g. VLOS, daytime,

etc –  When you agree to terms, prints out a “certificate” with a 16 digit

“N” number that must be hard wired on the frame

•  Who? –  FAA Development/oversight –  Delegated Authority to manage

•  Trains, certifies operators –  Contractor develops web-based system

•  Tools? –  Additional Web-based system –  Mouse driven

•  Applicant/Operator places mouse over desired operating location

•  Application informs operator what the operational limitations are

•  Two Page rule –  KISS principle…but pack the wallop of a real rule….

Certification of sUAS – A proposal

Still Some Hard Questions….

•  Where/how do you draw the line on limits?

–  Location? Close to airports?

–  Risk?

–  Population density?

–  What model do you use? NASA”s?

–  Recommendation – Stay well away from airports…understand where the approaches run…work with the towers to stay well clear

–  2 lbs and under (MTOW) to start off

•  After the rule if finalized…petition to waive based on location, etc….mitigating the risk!

•  What about the altitude?

–  Depends….can you see it?

–  400-500 AGL works…stick with it

•  What about Privacy?

–  Ugh….still an issue?

•  Spectrum?

•  How do we let the people know?

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And the Rest?

•  There’s always 14 CFR Part 21……

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Questions?

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