Aviationista

The U.S. Department of Justice produced a report in 2016 addressing the pros and cons of integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) within the national air space (NAS). With the unmanned nature of these aircraft, they are able to operate specific missions that would normally be very fatal or hazardous for humans. UAS can also operate within difficult to reach areas during natural disasters, find missing people within the wilderness, or even provide visual insight to crime scenes or other surveillance missions.  However, the issue of privacy and civil liberties remain a huge issue. This report also addressed public concerns for privacy and safety during UAS operations. The U.S. Department of Justice was in agreement that there needs to be an agreement of some sort to control unmanned aircraft issues relating to privacy. Hence why the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented Part 107 regulation for drone certifications and operational protocol.  An example of successful ...

What do you think are the most important factors when selecting, certifying, and training UAS Operators? According to the Federal Aviation Administration to become a UAV pilot there are specific criteria under Part 107. These minimum requirements include being at least 16 years of age, able to speak, read, and right English, being physically and mentally fit to safely fly and operate a drone, along with passing the aeronautical knowledge exam. When selecting someone to become a UAS operator, having the FAA certificate is crucial along with possessing the appropriate knowledge base of UAS operations. All of the requirements laid out by the FAA are critical elements when selecting, certifying, and training UAS operators. How much does the size and capability of the UAS drive the requirements for crew-member /operator qualification? With more complex UAVs, the knowledge base and skills set must match the requirements for the operator. If the drone is operating with complex systems and alg...

What are hazards and risks when it comes to aviation operations? Regarding UAS hazards and risks, Barnhart, Marshall, Shappee, and Most (2016) have an excellent hazards and risks analysis tool within their book Introduction to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In chapter 7 it focuses on the safety aspects of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations and how to identify and mitigate those issues. Identifying potential safety issues early on before operating the UAS provides both the drone operator and team to be alert and aware of their surrounding hazards. After potential hazards are identified it is imperative to then assess the risks of these hazards. This assessments provides the operators insights on the hazards and to be continually monitoring the operations for overall safety.  What tools can be used to mitigate risks to BVLOS operations? According to Fang, Young, and Rolland (2018) the aviation industry has begun to require detect and avoid (DAA) technology to be installed on smal...