A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/703686
LABOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT NATCA ATTENDS A BRIEFING ON NEW SMALL UAS RULE On July 7, 2016, NATCA attended a briefing regarding the Small Unmanne d Aircraft Systems (UAS) rule. The rule adds a new part 107 to Title 14 of the Code of the Federal Regulations to allow for routine civil operation of small UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS) and to provide safe ty rules for these operations. The rule defines small UAS as unmanned aircraft that weigh less than five pounds. Small UAS will be limited to daylight and civil twilight operations with appropriate collision lighting, confined areas of operation, and visual - line - of - sight operators. The new rule was published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2016, and will become effective on August 29, 2016. After the effective date, operators who have successfully passed a required knowledge test and received a remote pilot certificate may begin operations in Class G airspace at or belo w 400 AGL without cont acting ATC or issuing a NOTAM. To address operations in controlled airspaces such as Class B, C, and D airspace and E surface area, the ATO is collaborating with NATCA to establish a process for an operator to make a request and recei ve approval through an automatic system. At each facility, a representative from NATCA and management will meet to review a map of the relevant airspace and determine in what areas these automatic approvals will be appropriate. These locally - developed pro cesses will then be reviewed and approved at ATO headquarters. POCs: NATCA UAS Article 48 Representative and Workgroup Lead Steve Weidner, NATCA UAS Workgroup Co - Lead Jeff Richards, and Assistant Director o f Labor Relations Nicole Vitale. BRIEFING REQUES TS On July 11, 2016, NATCA requested a briefing on TASAR Flight Tri al 2 – ATC Observation Report. We are currently in the proce ss of scheduling this briefing. POCs: Policy Counsel Greg Shoemaker and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson .