The Current Status of UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, are being utilized more and more in the civilian sector for a variety of reasons, to include cinematically for weddings, businesses, general photography necessities, and recreational purposes to name a few. UAVs are outlined in the Special Rule For Model Aircraft: Public Law 112-95, Section 336, and Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation, Part 107 (Meola, 2017). There are numerous differences for recreational vs. commercial use of UAVs. To operate a drone recreationally, there are significantly less strenuous aircraft, pilot and operating rules. Commercially, the operator must possess a Remote Pilot American Certificate, must be evaluated by the TSA, and must be at least 16 years of age or older. The operator’s UAV must also be registered if it is more than .55 pounds, but must weigh less than 55 pounds, he or she must conduct pre-flight checks prior to operating, and can only operate in Class G airspace. Lastly, the commercial use of a UAV requires the operator to keep the drone in his or her line of sight at all times, it must remain under 400 feet, cannot fly over humans, and must yield to the right of way to manned aircraft, to name a few (Meola, 2017).

            In addition to the United States, UAVs are also being operated commercially in other countries to include Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. With the exception of the United Kingdom, all of those countries will be subject to the European Aviation Safety Society (EASA) regulatory plan that designates drone operations into three categories: open (low risk), specific (medium risk), and certified (higher risk) (Wichmann, 2017). Each country provides abundant uses for UAVs recreationally and commercially, to include workplace deliveries in low-population areas, and in Italy, drones are utilized in mining and agricultural industries.

            The FAA has a vision for integrating UAVs into the National Airspace System (NAS) that involves manned aircraft and the UAVs operating successfully in the same airspace. Not only will they be coexisting, they intend to also incorporate the same procedures and air traffic management systems that manned aircraft abide by today (FAA, 2017). I can foresee the FAA integrating the UAVs, but I can also foresee many problems associated with doing so like an increased workload of traffic and tasks on controllers, a more complicated accountability process, and an increase in cost for operators. When I used to think of a UAV I personally thought of two things (and I know I’m not alone in this): a child with a toy and a military member with a weapon. Those reasons, in addition to concerns of something foreign being piloted remotely in the same airspace as someone in an aircraft, could influence the public’s perception of such activities in a negative light. That perception, however, could easily be improved with a person’s understanding of the commercial UAV process and intentions.

            UAVs have notably transformed the way the military conducts their operations. Utilizing a drone in lieu of a human being eliminates the human element of risk (for our side). Some may argue it is unethical because we are using drones to fight other men and women, but I see it as a safer means of conducting the same mission. Many people associate UAVs in the military with dropping objects explosive in nature on the enemies, but drones have so many other beneficial purposes such as a more stealthy way of gathering intelligence and conducting force protection and reconnaissance missions. Those purposes allow military operations to be conducted in a safe and efficient manner with a significant decrease in possibility of loss of life for US forces or allies. Although UAVs are still expensive, they are astronomically cheaper than an actual fighter jet utilized to do the same mission. More importantly, you can’t put a price on someone’s life, and I for one would rather dispatch a drone to a potentially dangerous situation than a military member.

            I was surprised to see the various UAV jobs advertised for civilians. One listing on Indeed.com, for example, is available in Phoenix, Arizona as a drone pilot/camera man for the HUB Media Company. The company is looking for an FAA Licensed Drone Pilot to operate a UAV cinematically to capture footage for their company, paying anywhere from $50-$100 an hour (Indeed, 2018). In Palmdale, California, Northrop Grumman is seeking applicants interested in Flight Test Aircrew positions, that involves piloting level 4 UAVs during developmental testing and operational flights (Northrop Grumman, 2018).

References

FAA (2017, October 13). Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Programs, Partnerships and Opportunities.                                  Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/

Indeed (2018, January 28). Drone Pilot/Camera Man. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/q-Uav-Operator-            jobs.html?vjk=2870b859025e745c

Meola, A. (2017, July 25). Recreational vs. Commercial Drone Regulations. Retrieved from http://                                    www.businessinsider.com/drones-law-faa-regulations-2017-7

Northrop Grumman (2018). Pilot Unmanned Aerial Veh 4. Retrieved from https://ngc.taleo.net/                                       careersection/ngc_pro/jobdetail.ftl?job=17027340

Wichmann, T. (2017, March 8). Expanding Drone Operations Into Europe. Retrieved from https://                                    skyward.io/expanding-commercial-drone-operations-into-europe/