Release #: Vol. 84, No. 8
October 01, 2015

When You Fly…We Can’t

ALPA Leads in Safely Integrating UAS into the U.S. National Airspace

“Tonight a hobby drone grounded firefighting aircraft by flying over the #LakeFire. When you fly…we CAN’T! Puts our pilots’ lives at risk,” tweeted a Cal Fire public information officer during a June wildfire in Southern California. A four-foot unmanned aircraft in the sky overhead caused firefighters to halt aerial efforts to combat a massive wildfire burning south of Big Bear Lake in California.

In August, an unmanned aircraft flying near Oliver, British Columbia, meant eight helicopters and an air tanker were grounded for five hours as firefighters were forced to battle a wildfire on foot, reports the Vancouver Sun. Both incidents highlight just how ubiquitous unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become—and why the Air Line Pilots Association, International is so heavily involved in working to safeguard air transportation.

ALPA recognizes the economic benefits of commercial UAS use

The FAA has categorized UAS in two broad categories: small and large. Small UAS are those that weigh less than 55 pounds. They typically are restricted to operating below 500 feet above the surface and within sight of the pilot. Large unmanned aircraft weigh more than 55 pounds and can be as large as a small airliner. They are intended to operate in the same airspace as aircraft carrying people and cargo.

This summer, the FAA released hundreds of pilot reports regarding UAS sightings filed between November 2014 and August 2015. Pilot reports of UAS encounters have come in from all corners of the country and near airports serving small communities as well as the nation’s largest cities (see “UAS: At an Airport Near You?”). In its coverage of the FAA data, Bloomberg estimated that pilot encounters with UAS are “on pace to at least quadruple to more than 1,000 this year.”

In March, Capt. Tim Canoll, ALPA’s president, testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security regarding ALPA’s position on UAS. “ALPA recognizes the societal and economic benefits of employing this technology to perform a wide variety of tasks more efficiently, in a more environmentally responsible manner, and potentially more safely than the same task performed with conventional aircraft,” Canoll told subcommittee members. “Our overarching position is that unmanned or remotely piloted aircraft should not be allowed unrestricted access to conduct flight operations unless they meet all of the stringent safety standards currently required for every other airspace user.”

Four-part solution

ALPA’s solution to safely integrating UAS into the national airspace is centered on four fundamental elements:

1. Education: Anyone who plans to fly UAS must understand the aircraft, the airspace, and the other aircraft that could be encountered while flying.

In the case of UAS that might be flown for compensation or hire in civil airspace, the pilots must hold a commercial pilot certificate to ensure they possess the appropriate skill and experience to meet safety standards designed to protect the flying public.

Those flying UAS for recreational purposes must adhere to the FAA guidelines, including limiting UAS operations to individuals who are 17 and older and keeping the UAS within line of sight and flying at heights under 500 feet. ALPA has also encouraged the FAA to establish rules for recreational use of UAS.

2. Registration: Gathering basic information about the identity of the individual purchasing the UAS not only allows law enforcement authorities to identify the owner if the UAS were to encounter a problem, but it helps make clear the serious nature of operating a UAS in the U.S. national airspace and the responsibility to safeguard public safety.

3. Technology: If UAS are intended to be operated in airspace that airliners use or could unintentionally end up in that airspace, airline pilots need to be able to see them on cockpit displays, controllers need the ability to see them on their radar scopes, and UAS must be equipped with active technologies that ensure that the UAS is capable of avoiding collision with manned aircraft. In these types of operations, technology must enable the pilots to control and interact with them in the same manner as if the pilot were on board.

If a UAS is restricted by regulations from operating in a particular geographic area, it must have technology that cannot be overridden that limits the altitude and geographic areas in which it can operate. This may include permanent locations such as the White House and all public airports, as well as temporary restrictions such as wildfires or natural disaster areas.

4. Penalties and enforcement: UAS pilots must be properly trained and understand the consequences of possible malfunctions. Anyone flying a UAS that is a hazard to other aircraft in the airspace, especially those who choose to do so recklessly near airports, must be able to be identified so appropriate action can be taken.

Reuters reported that its analysis of FAA data shows that authorities identified operators in only one in 10 unauthorized drone sightings reported in 2014, while only 2 percent of the cases led to enforcement action.

ALPA: Working with regulators and the UAS community

Representatives from ALPA’s Air Safety Organization and staff are fully engaged with the FAA and participating on multiple collaborative, consensus-based groups to develop rules and standards that ensure the safety of UAS operations in airspace that is shared with airliners carrying passengers and cargo. While the standards and rules needed to address the challenges will be complex, they must be developed thoroughly and correctly. The union is also teaming with airline industry groups to enhance public education about the safety hazard posed by the unsafe operation of UAS near airports.

In February 2015, Canoll wrote an opinion piece published in USA Today that recognized the value of deploying UAS in certain commercial applications and the importance of the country’s ability to compete in leading the development of new UAS technologies. But ALPA also underscored the need to protect the extraordinary level of safety that is the hallmark of North American air transportation.

During the U.S. Open, a UAS reportedly buzzed over the court and crashed into an empty section of seats. The incident was the latest in a volley of serious encounters between UAS and the public, both in the air and on the ground. As the United States and Canada integrate UAS into the national airspace, safety must win game, set, and match.

This article is from the October 2015 issue of Air Line Pilot magazine, the Official Journal of the Air Line Pilots Association, International—a monthly publication for all ALPA members.

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