A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/613905
entered into a fourth CRDA f or the purposes of exploring UAS detec tion equipment and procedures. All of these efforts are being called the UAS Pathfinder efforts. Below is a summary of each Pathfinder activity. Pathfinder 1 - The FAA partnered with CNN to explore the use of UAS over populated areas for acti vities such as news gathering. This activity is being championed by the NextGen organization and is still in the planning stages. Pathfinder 2 - The FAA partnered with North C arolina - based Precision Hawk. The CRDA with Precision H awk will explore Extended Visual Line of Sight (EVLOS) operations for activities such as precision agriculture surveying. EVLOS operations occur when the UAS operator may be unable to see the UA in flight, but maintains a full visual scan on the operating environment, thereby allowing the operator to cease UAS operations should another aircraft approach the area of operations (i.e. low fl ying helicopter, crop duster). The agency convened an SMS panel for Pathfinder 2 in mid September to identify hazards as sociated with this research operation at Butner Farms, N . C. Butn er Farms lies in RDU airspace. NATCA was represented on this panel by Steve Weidner (UAS Article 48 Rep) and Thomas Eggar (R DU UAS Rep and local ATC SME). This activity is being championed by AJV11. Pathfinder 3 - The FAA partnered with BNSF railroad to research Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. As the name implies, BVLOS operations are flights where the UA flight beyond the visual line of sight of the operator. BVLOS operations could have many potential benefits. In this case, the proposed research would be for rail track inspection. The agency convened an SMS panel for Pathfinder 3 in August to assess the proposed BVLOS operation over a 140 - mile section of track in rural New Me xico at alt itudes of 1000' AGL and below. The airspace for this tes ting falls under ZAB airspace. Mr. Weidner and Danny Watson (ZAB UAS Rep and loca l ATC SME) participated on this panel representing NATCA. There were several issues with the panel and the p anel's findings on which NATCA did not agree. NATCA attached a dissenting opinion to the SRMD to document our disagreement. The agency and BNSF conducted their first flight operations in late Octobe r using the Insitu Scan Eagle. These tests will continue in phases over the next two years and wil l encompass dozens of flights. This activity is being championed by AFS - 80. Pathfinder 4 - This is the newest of the Pathfind er activities. For this effort, the agency has entered into a CRDA with CACI to conduct t esting and research on procedures and equi pment for detecting rogue UAS. The detection of ro g u e UAS has become increasingly important, as there are more and more sightings of UAS flying dangerously close to aircraft in the terminal environment at some of t he countries busiest airports. CACI and the agency will be conducting tests at the Atlantic City, N . J . airport, with the possibility of additional testing at Lexington , KY airport. This activity is being championed by Marke "Hoot" Gibson (FAA Senior Adviso r on UAS Integration). Section 336 and ATC Notification Section 336 of the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act requires that a UAS flown