FAA Sends Two UAS Rules to OMB

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had received two rulemakings from DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for review. Both rulemakings addressed operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The two rulemakings were (links are to the announcements):

• Operations of Small Unmanned Aircraft Over People – Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); and

• Safe and Secure Operations of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems – Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM)

Over People

According to the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda entry for this rulemaking:

“This rulemaking would address the performance-based standards and means-of-compliance for operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over people not directly participating in the operation or not under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft. This rule would provide relief from certain operational restrictions implemented in the Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems final rule (RIN 2120-AJ60) [link added].”

Safe and Secure Operations

According to the Fall 2017 Unified Agenda entry for this rulemaking:

“This action would solicit public comments for several operational limitations, airspace restrictions, hardware requirements, and associated identification or tracking technologies for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The ANPRM will ask a series of questions regarding the balance of needs between UAS operators and the law enforcement and national defense communities. This action is necessary to address safety and security concerns from the homeland security, Federal law enforcement, and national defense communities.”