UAS Civil Airspace Integration Webinar

Avionics Magazine

is hosting a Webinar entitled: UAS Civil Airspace Integration: Progress and Challenges on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, from Noon to 1 p.m. ET.

Among the discussion points:

• What is the status of UAS integration in civil airspace?
• What is the FAA strategy for introducing UAS in the NAS, and what is the timeframe?
• What is the state of the art in “sense-and-avoid” technology for UAS?
• Will UAS manufacturers have to redesign or recertify their platforms to meet new requirements?
• What applications are envisioned for civilian UAS and what is the potential market?

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have proven their utility in military theatres of operation in a variety of applications, and they hold the same potential for civilian operations. Government and private-sector interest in using unmanned aircraft for missions such as border patrol, aerial photography and land and crop surveying has been building for years. Outside of combat operations, the military requires freer access to domestic airspace to maintain UAS training proficiency.

But introducing UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS) with airline, cargo and general aviation traffic poses substantial technological, regulatory and safety challenges. FAA is addressing the issue within its Aviation Safety office and Air Traffic Organization. The agency expects to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2011 establishing conditions for the operation of small UAS in the NAS. An RTCA Special Committee, SC-203, is working with industry to define Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards.