All,
Everyone needs to read and comment on the UAV NPRM.
As written it is very dangerous to aircraft at uncontrolled airports. You can find the NPRM on regulations.gov. Search for docket 2015.03544. It has comment links. Page 84+ discusses airspace. Page 183+ is the airspace proposed rule.
The NPRM would prohibit UAV's in controlled airspace which is A, B, C, D and "surface Es" without ATC approval. UAV activities are allowed in G without any notice what so ever. You may be meeting a 55 pound, 100 MPH object right over your airport.
In a collision the UAV has a financial interest. You as a pilot have potentially a life or death issue. The FAA thinks see and avoid is sufficient when potentially neither party can see the other. The UAV because of perspective and the aircraft can't see because of the UAV's small size.
The issue is many, actually most airports are uncontrolled and are in Class G. For example in my state of Colorado there are 76 public use airports. Nineteen are B, C, D or surface E's. The remaining 57 are in Class G.
When you look at the sectionals surface Es have the thin dashed magenta lines. Surface Es are designated by the Feds in Order 7400. The designation is usually because of air carrier operations or multiple instrument approaches.
I believe UAVs have a useful place in our society, just not over public use airports because of safety. Not sure why the alphabet organizations thought this was a reasonable first step.
My suggestion would be that all public use airports become surface E's but you may have other thoughts.
Dick Sunderland
Everyone needs to read and comment on the UAV NPRM.
As written it is very dangerous to aircraft at uncontrolled airports. You can find the NPRM on regulations.gov. Search for docket 2015.03544. It has comment links. Page 84+ discusses airspace. Page 183+ is the airspace proposed rule.
The NPRM would prohibit UAV's in controlled airspace which is A, B, C, D and "surface Es" without ATC approval. UAV activities are allowed in G without any notice what so ever. You may be meeting a 55 pound, 100 MPH object right over your airport.
In a collision the UAV has a financial interest. You as a pilot have potentially a life or death issue. The FAA thinks see and avoid is sufficient when potentially neither party can see the other. The UAV because of perspective and the aircraft can't see because of the UAV's small size.
The issue is many, actually most airports are uncontrolled and are in Class G. For example in my state of Colorado there are 76 public use airports. Nineteen are B, C, D or surface E's. The remaining 57 are in Class G.
When you look at the sectionals surface Es have the thin dashed magenta lines. Surface Es are designated by the Feds in Order 7400. The designation is usually because of air carrier operations or multiple instrument approaches.
I believe UAVs have a useful place in our society, just not over public use airports because of safety. Not sure why the alphabet organizations thought this was a reasonable first step.
My suggestion would be that all public use airports become surface E's but you may have other thoughts.
Dick Sunderland