Partners and Programs:
  • BARS
  • GSIP
  • SKYbrary
  • ASN
  • Contact Us
  • Members' Center
  • Login
  • Support Aviation Safety

  • Industry Updates
  • The Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety
    • Founders
    • Mission
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Officers and Staff
    • Media/Communications
    • Aviation Award & Scholarship Programs
    • Work with Us
    • Join Us
  • Events
  • AeroSafety World
  • Toolkits & Resources
    • COVID-19 Crisis Resources
    • Fatigue Management
    • Flight Path Monitoring
    • Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions (GAPPRE)
    • Go-Around Project
    • Global Safety Assessment Project
    • Learning From All Operations
    • Past Safety Initiatives
    • Pilot Training and Competency
    • Special Reports
  • Industry Updates
  • The Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety
    • Founders
    • Mission
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Officers and Staff
    • Media/Communications
    • Aviation Award & Scholarship Programs
    • Work with Us
    • Join Us
  • Events
  • AeroSafety World
  • Toolkits & Resources
    • COVID-19 Crisis Resources
    • Fatigue Management
    • Flight Path Monitoring
    • Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions (GAPPRE)
    • Go-Around Project
    • Global Safety Assessment Project
    • Learning From All Operations
    • Past Safety Initiatives
    • Pilot Training and Competency
    • Special Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Members' Center
  • Login
  • Support Aviation Safety
Partners and Programs:
  • BARS
  • GSIP
  • SKYbrary
  • ASN

FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 250,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: +1 703 739 6700 Fax: +1 703 739 6708

  • Aviation Safety Experts
  • AeroSafety World
  • AeroSafety World April 2015
  • Time to Speak Up

Editorial Page, Unmanned Aircraft

Time to Speak Up

by Frank Jackman | Editor-in-Chief | March 31, 2015

I try to avoid writing my editorial on the same subject two issues in a row, but I’m going to make an exception for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). As promised last month, beginning on p. 36 of this issue of AeroSafety World, you can find more detail on the safety factors and regulatory framework the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed to govern the operation of small UAS aircraft (under 55 lb/25 kg) in the National Airspace System (NAS).

I’m mentioning this because April 24 is the deadline to comment on the FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in which the framework is outlined. This is your chance to have your input heard, so speak up. It is important for the aviation safety community to weigh in on this issue.

Meanwhile, a growing and diverse group of organizations has gotten behind the “Know Before You Fly” UAS public education campaign launched in December by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (­AUVSI), the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Small UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) Coalition in partnership with the FAA. The intent of the campaign is to educate prospective users about safe and responsible operation of UAS. As the campaign’s literature points out, “[P]rospective operators want to fly, and fly safely, but many don’t realize that, just because you can buy a UAS, doesn’t mean you can fly it anywhere, or for any purpose.”

The latest organizations to join the campaign — Airlines for America, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Business Aviation Association — represent a significant cross section of current NAS users. Also joining in March, according to a Know Before You Fly press release, were the National Association of Realtors and the two largest manufacturers and distributors of hobby products: Hobbico and Horizon Hobby.

“We’re especially pleased to see the manned aviation community embrace the campaign and help us spread the message about safe and responsible flying,” said Brian Wynne, AUVSI president and CEO. “Our combined efforts will make the entire National Airspace System safer for all users — both manned and unmanned.”

Wynne has a good point. Because of the complexity of the aviation system, it traditionally has taken multiple stakeholders, working in a coordinated fashion, to improve the system’s overall safety. That’s not going to change because some of the aircraft will be operated remotely.

Share:

Print:

Key Safety Issues

  • Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
  • Loss of Control–In Flight (LOC-I)
  • Mechanical Issues
  • Runway Safety (approach and landing)
  • Sabotage/Intentional Acts
  • Midair Collisions (MAC)
  • Runway Safety (Conflicts)
  • Wildlife Issues
  • Fatigue
  • Cabin Safety
  • Emerging Safety Issues
    • Lithium Batteries
    • Safety Information Sharing and Protection
    • Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Related Content

737 MAX, COVID-19, News, Unmanned Aircraft

Safety News

A U.S. government oversight agency is faulting the FAA for inadequate plans to integrate drones into the nation’s airspace.

by FSF Editorial Staff

Accident/Incident Investigation, News, Unmanned Aircraft

An Unrecognized Conflict

A small airplane was slightly damaged and a drone was destroyed in a collision near a Toronto airport.

by Linda Werfelman

Accident/Incident Investigation, Flight Ops, News, Safety Management

Safety News

The ATSB says 10 instances of fatigue cracks occurred in Boeing 737 flap mechanisms from 2017 to 2022.

by FSF Editorial Staff

Read more articles

701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 250, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: +1 703 739 6700 Fax: +1 703 739 6708

Flight Safety Foundation on Twitter

Stop by the @Boeing booth and drop off your business card for a chance to win this 777-9 model! The drawing is on… https://t.co/iZfKWRtYpI

March 22, 2023

Follow @flightsafety

Projects & Partners

  • Basic Aviation Risk Standard
  • Global Safety Information Project
  • SKYbrary
  • Aviation Safety Network
  • Donate
  • Advertise on our website
  • Sponsor & Exhibit at our Events
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Privacy

© 2023 Flight Safety Foundation

Join our group on LinkedIn