Avionics News April 2015 - 14

F R O M
R I C
P E R I
A EA V I C E P R ES I D E N T O F G OV E R N M E N T & I N D U ST RY A F FA I RS

The Aircraft Electronics Association's international membership continues to grow. Currently, the AEA represents avionics
businesses in more than 40 countries throughout the world. To better serve the needs of the AEA's international membership,
the "International News and Regulatory Updates" section of Avionics News offers a greater focus on international regulatory
activity, international industry news and an international "Frequently Asked Questions" column to help promote standardization.
If you have comments about this section, send emails to avionicsnews@aea.net.

UNITED STATES

News & Regulatory Updates
Operation and certification of small
unmanned aircraft systems; proposed rule
On Feb. 23, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration
proposed to amend its regulations to adopt specific rules to
allow the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems in
the national airspace system. These changes would address
the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, certification of
their operators, registration and display of registration markings. The proposed rule also would find that airworthiness
certification is not required for small unmanned aircraft system operations that would be subject to this proposed rule.
Lastly, the proposed rule would prohibit model aircraft from
endangering the safety of the national airspace system.
The proposal essentially creates three categories of
unmanned aircraft: small aircraft (aircraft limited to not
more than 55 pounds) flown for recreation; small aircraft
flown for other than recreational purposes; and all others.
The three significant areas of the proposal are:
Revisions to Part 101 - moored balloons, kites, amateur
rockets and unmanned free balloons, to add Subpart E -
special rule for model aircraft.
This subpart prescribes the rules governing the operation
of a model aircraft that meets all of the following conditions
as set forth in section 336 of Public Law 112-95:
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avionics news

april

2015

(a) The aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use.
(b) The aircraft is operated in accordance with a
community-based set of safety guidelines and within
the programming of a nationwide community-based
organization.
(c) The aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds
unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety
program administered by a community-based organization.
(d) The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not
interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft.
(e) When flown within 5 miles of an airport, the
operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an
air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior
notice of the operation.
The proposed Part 107 - small unmanned aircraft systems, applies to the registration, airman certification and
operation of civil small unmanned aircraft systems within
the U.S.
Part 107 explicitly does not apply to any aircraft subject
to the provisions of Part 101; that is, small unmanned aircraft that are flown strictly for hobby or recreational use.
In addition, this part does not apply to air carrier operations; any aircraft conducting an external load operation;
any aircraft towing another aircraft or object; or any aircraft
that does not meet the registration and marking criteria
specified in Sec. 47.3.

Avionics News April 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News April 2015