A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/706293
airports without any surface surveillance system , which should be completed at the beginning of 2017. The hope is to have a low cost technology solution t o reduce the risk of runway incursions and be production - ready within the next five years. I expect the prototypes to be rolled out at possibly two airports. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS): Steve Weidner (ZMP) is the NATCA Art icle 48 Representative for U AS. Jeff Richards (ZAU) is assisting Mr. Weidner on this project due to the workload a nd activity associated with it. UAS Enroute Contingency Operations The NextGen organization is engaged in a study of UAS contingency operatio ns in the enroute environmen t. As a part of this study, the NextGen organization is visiting several enroute facilities around the country. During these visits the team interviews controllers, management personnel, airspace and procedures specialists, and oth er personnel in each faci lity. The purpose of these interviews is to gain information on current UAS procedures and to identify areas where improvements can be made to the overall enroute UAS operation. The research being conducted by this group will help inform overall lo st link procedures development. Ultimately the agency is moving toward a set of standardized lost link procedures. In May t his group visited ZLA and JCF. This week the group is visiting ZMP and ZAU. Mr. Weidner has been participating in the activities of this work group. Small UAS Rule On June 28th the FAA published the small UAS rule, creating FAR Part 107 and codifying hobbyist/model operation s into FAR Part 101, Subpart E. The rule will b ecome effective on August 29th. Expect additional information and traini ng on this rule in the coming weeks and months. Mr. Weidner and Mr. Richards are working with the agency on a daily basis to develop training and procedures for ope rations under the small rul e. Part 107 Regular commercial operations can now occur in t he NAS for small UAS under Part 107 without the need for a Section 333 exemption and a Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA). In order to fly under Part 107, the following conditions must be met: • Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg) ; • Visual line - of - sight (VLOS) only ; • Daylight - only operations, or civil twilight (30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset, local time) with appropriate anti - collision lighting ; • Must yield right of way to o ther aircraft ; • Maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots) ; • Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (AGL) or, if higher than 400 feet AGL, remain within 400 feet of a structure ; • Minimum weather visibility of 3 miles from control statio n ; • Operations in Class B, C, D and E surface area airspace are allowed with the required ATC permission ; • Operations in Class G airspace are a llowed without ATC permission. The change to air traffic vs. how operations occur today is not substan tial, but there are a few items that are noteworthy: • There will be far fewer COA's for small UAS operations ;