1. Cleared for Public Release
sUAS Certification – A Proposal
sUAS Business Exposition
May 8, 2014
Doug Davis, Director of
Airworthiness
2. Agenda
• Certification for sUAS – A proposal……
• How about the rest?
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Definition of Airworthiness – An Aircraft
complies with it’s approved Type Design and
it’s in a safe state of operation
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3. Certification of sUAS – A proposal
• Certify?
– Not in the traditional sense of Airworthiness
– Make it an Operational Approval
• What then?
– A Risk assessment based on:
• Weight
• Operational environment
• Crew expertise
• Frangibility
• How?
– Web-based
– Submit a picture…then what about changes?
– Provide proof of insurance
– Agree to comply with operational limitations, e.g. VLOS, daytime,
etc
– When you agree to terms, prints out a “certificate” with a 16 digit
“N” number that must be hard wired on the frame
4. Certification of sUAS – A proposal
• Who?
– FAA Development/oversight
– Delegated Authority to manage
• Trains, certifies operators
– Contractor develops web-based system
• Tools?
– Additional Web-based system
– Mouse driven
• Applicant/Operator places mouse over desired
operating location
• Application informs operator what the
operational limitations are
• Two Page rule
– KISS principle…but pack the wallop of a real rule….
5. Still Some Hard Questions….
• Where/how do you draw the line on limits?
– Location? Close to airports?
– Risk?
– Population density?
– What model do you use? NASA”s?
– Recommendation – Stay well away from airports…understand where the approaches run…work with the
towers to stay well clear
– 2 lbs and under (MTOW) to start off
• After the rule if finalized…petition to waive based on location, etc….mitigating the risk!
• What about the altitude?
– Depends….can you see it?
– 400-500 AGL works…stick with it
• What about Privacy?
– Ugh….still an issue?
• Spectrum?
• How do we let the people know?
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