Airspace from ground level to 400 feet is about to get really crowded. Keep alert, fellow pilots! Am I overstating this situation? I don’t think so. You know about drones. You may not know they are presently restricted to visual line of sight. However, a line-of-sight drone won’t get your Amazon package delivered a few miles from the distribution center to your house. Throughout Covid, a group has been working on potential changes to FAA regulations to allow drones to fly further, beyond visual line of sight (as military drones do now). It’s abbreviated BVLOS. It is impossible to keep up with all the regulatory actions from dozens of agencies. Some of this stuff is dry as old bones. The document I’m focused on runs to 381 pages. If you’re a real glutton for punishment, read the whole thing. The good news = This is only an industry committee report.
Which Is More Important: Robots or Humans? Drones Want to Fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight
What Is the Danger?
Drones, robot aircraft flying out of visual range of human operators, are coming. Can these flying machines see and avoid us in our crewed aircraft? Did you know you were "crew?" No more can some say "manned" aircraft. When you fly your Part 103 vehicle, you are "crew."Some eVTOLs are piloted but essentially computer-directed, making them semi-autonomous. All those motors and spinning props pack considerable energy.
- give UA right of way in Shielded Areas;
- give UA right of way over crewed aircraft that are not equipped with ADS-B or TABS in Non-Shielded Low Altitude Areas; and
- give crewed aircraft that are equipped with ADS-B or TABS (and broadcasting their position) right of way in Non-Shielded Low Altitude Areas.
Ultralights are often flown at lower altitudes …because that's where they can be a lot of fun. photo by David Jacobson
Friends in High Places
Thankfully, our friends over at AOPA were fully on top of this. As one of the 89 members of ARC, they know all about BVLOS. Even better, they already submitted a letter of "noncurrence." The AOPA letter lead a joint response signed by several big organizations including Aerospace Industries Association; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Air Line Pilots Association; General Aviation Manufacturers Association; Helicopter Association International; and, Praxis Aerospace Concepts.Aircraft like Badland's F-series Part 103 models are usually flown away from areas likely to served by drones, but conflicts could arise.
Gryoplanes, "nothing like multicopters," say enthusiasts, are highly maneuverable but cannot suddenly yield right-of-way to unmanned aircraft.
On the Job!
Some deeply-affected organizations are disturbed by several of ARC's broad recommendations. I repeat my statement that it is challenging to keep up with multiple groups writing potential rules. However, EAA's Sean Elliott recently had discussions with U.S. Ultralight Association leader Roy Beisswenger and said EAA is working on a response. LAMA will add its voice to this chorus.Some light aircraft are built for unimproved airstrips but low flying drones could present quite a hazard.
Float-equipped aircraft or amphibians often operate at zero to 400 feet above the surface. It's part of the magic of that kind of aviation.
Thanks to LAMA Board Director Roy Beisswenger for assistance in preparing this article as well as to AOPA's Chris Cooper. —DJ