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Steve Weidner (ZMP) is the NATCA Article 114 Representative for UAS. Onja Beebe (IAD) is assisting Mr. Weidner on this project due to the workload and activity associated with it. The report is below: FAA Reauthorization and Hobbyist UAS As previously reported, the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill changed the requirements for recreational UAS users in controlled airspace. If you recall, previous language required hobbyist drone operators to notify the air traffic control tower that they were going to be operating within five miles of the airport. This portion of the law has been repealed and now requires hobbyists/recreational users to obtain ATC authorization to operate in controlled airspace. NATCA and the Agency are still working on the requirements for implementing this new law. It is anticipated that the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) will be the primary means by which hobbyist operators will receive authorization. However, LAANC will not be ready to accept hobbyist requests until approximately July. The Agency is still waiting for approval from the Department of Transportation on some interim guidance for hobbyists. Once we have received approval to publish the interim guidance, the field will be briefed prior to implementation. Timing for implementation of that interim guidance is yet to be determined. In the meantime, controllers/CICs should continue to operate as they have been until the Agency has developed new procedures to comply with this new language. If you any questions regarding this issue, please contact Steve Weidner, Onja Beebe, or Jeff Richards. All can be reached at UAS@natca.net. Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) LAANC will be activated for 109 FCTs on May 23. The list of 109 FCTs has not yet been published. Once it is, we'll supply a link to the list. The activation date for the remaining FCTs has yet to be determined. Approximately 90,000 airspace authorization requests have been submitted through LAANC since it was first deployed. For more detailed information about LAANC, including a list of UAS Service Suppliers (LAANC partners), please visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/uas_data_exchange/. Many facilities have provided input and suggestions as to improvements that can be made to LAANC. Given the necessity to update LAANC to accommodate the new recreational users in a timely manner, all LAANC resources are being applied to that task. Once LAANC is up and running for recreational users, discussions and activity will resume on improvements and enhancements to the LAANC system. High E (Above FL600) Traffic Management Meeting Onja Beebe and Steve Weidner recently participated in a meeting regarding how to manage the increasing volume of traffic in Upper E (above FL600) airspace at NASA

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• SAFETY AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT