A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/961329
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) Steve Weidner (ZMP) is the NATCA Article 114 Representative for UAS. Jeff Richards (ZAU) is assisting Mr. Weidner on this project due to the workload and activity associated with it. Below is the update for the membership. LOW ALTITUDE AUTHORIZATION AND NOTIFICATION CAPABILITY (LAANC) NATCA and the FAA recently signed the MOU for the nationwide rollout of the LAANC beta version. The rollout will occur in six differ ent waves between April and September. Tr aining for the first wave began the week of March 26 . As a reminder, the initial version of LAANC will simply replace the manual process in which authorizations are approved. The tool itself will be used solely by staff support/management during the initial phase and will automate the current UAS authorization process for Part 107 proponents. The Agency is working with several industry partners who will provide this service to the various UAS proponents. The Agency will provide UAS facility map data to the industry partners. The partners will, in turn, develop tools that will provide authorization and notification services to the proponents, on a real - - ‐ time basis, based on the UAS facility map data. The authorizati ons and notifications will be instantly transmitted back to the facility for which the authorization/notification was made. Should you be asked for a list of the industry partners who are authorized UAS Service Suppliers for LAANC, refer those inquiries t o: https:// www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/uas_data_exchange/ On that page, you will a section titled, Approved LAANC UAS Service Supplies. In that section, there ar e hyperlinks to the approved UAS Service Suppliers. There are currently two approved suppliers, but more are expected to be added once they've completed the MOU process with the FAA and demonstrate that their system meets the LAANC requirements. NASA NO ‐ CHASE FLIGHT The NASA Ikhana UAS aircraft (https:// www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS - - ‐ 097 - - ‐ DFRC.html) will be making the first flight in unrestricted NAS airspa ce next month, using on - - ‐ board Detect and Avoid (DAA) equipment. The use of on - - ‐ board DAA will allow the Ikhana to comply with the requirement to "see and avoid" (FAR 91.113) other aircraft. This flight will be conducted in California (JCF, ZLA and ZOA airspace). As background, all aircraft are required by FAR 91.113 to "see and avoid" other aircraft. On manned aircraft, this is accomplished by the pilot looking out the cockpit window. There isn't a pilot onboard an unmanned aircraft, so UAS operators a re required to provide an alternate means of complying with FAR 91.113. This can be accomplished by using visual observers, chase planes, ground ‐ based detect and avoid systems, or a combination of these alternatives. Each of these alternate means of compli ance has complications and limitations.