AOPA is among the members of a new committee assembled by the FAA to develop recommendations for drone identification and tracking, laying important groundwork for future regulatory envelope expansion expected to allow flights over people and beyond line of sight.
Committee membership extends to a variety of industry and airspace stakeholders. The committee will work toward consensus on recommendations to facilitate digital identification and tracking of unmanned aircraft, which the FAA previously identified as an important prerequisite to more permissive regulations.
The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) will prepare recommendations on digital drone identification technologies and how those technologies may address security concerns and public safety needs. The ARC will submit its recommendations to the FAA by October, and is expected to wrap up its work by November. This latest committee is among many UAS-related efforts AOPA has participated in. Ongoing examples include AOPA membership on the FAA Drone Advisory Committee and the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team. AOPA also participated in past FAA regulatory study and rulemaking related to UAS, and plans to remain involved to promote the safe integration of unmanned aircraft for the benefit of all airspace users.