Director of Communications
Doug Church : dchurch@natcadc.org ; 301 - 346 - 8245
Associate Director of Communications, Art & Design
Laura Roose: lroose@natcadc.org ; 202 - 220 - 9814
Communications Specialist
Sarah Zilonis : szilonis@natcadc.org ; 202 - 266 - 9844.
Multimedia Specialist
Chris Ray : cray@natcadc.org ; 202 - 266 - 9875
WEEKLY UPDATE FROM FAA ATO COO TERI BRISTOL
Maps Show Path to UAS Integration
Hi everyone. This week we passed another significant milestone on our path to safely
integrate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) into the NAS. With the publication of more
than 230 facility maps to streamline the drone authorization process , we're advancing at
a pace that follows the rapid growth and expansion of the UAS industry itself.
These specialized maps, designed and built by ATO's aeronautical charting experts in
Mission Support Services, will be used to help drone operators improve the quality of
their Part 107 airspace authorization requests and help us process their re quests more
efficiently. Their release follows several months of non - stop planning and coordination
with industry stakeholders to create data exchange standards and a common framework
for the development of new applications that will automate the airspace approval
process for UAS operators – otherwise known as a Low Altitude Authorization and
Notification Capability (LAANC).
Through our collaboration with industry these map s will enable near real - time processing
of airspace notifications and automatic approval of requests below approved altitudes in
controlled airspace. In turn, the data we receive about UAS operations through these
third - party providers will inform other ai rspace users about drone operations, and allow
Air Traffic personnel to identify and contact drone operators.
Currently, the process by which drone operators receive airspace authorization from the
FAA is manual and cumbersome. The target timeframe to man ually process
authorization requests is 90 days, and as these requests continue to outpace approvals,
the queue keeps growing. In addition, phone calls to towers from drone operators take
time away from controllers monitoring the airspace.
We know the onl y way forward is through automation, and we can't go down this road
alone. The LAANC program, led by our own Program Management Organization,
harnesses the resources and ingenuity of private industry to develop user - friendly tools
for drone operators to ob tain airspace authorizations as quickly as possible. The next
phase of this program looks to evaluate potential automation platforms and begin field -
testing in FY18.
The ATO is not in the app - building business – but we are the worldwide experts in
buildin g aeronautical maps. The safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS will
