Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) come in a variety of shapes and sizes and serve diverse purposes. Because they are inherently different from manned aircraft, introducing UASs into the nation's airspace is challenging for both the FAA and aviation community. UASs must be integrated into an NAS that is evolving from ground-based navigation aids to a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based system in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Safe integration of UASs involves gaining a better understanding of operational issues, such as training requirements, operational specifications, and technology considerations.

To date, the FAA has authorized limited use of UASs for important missions in the public interest, such as firefighting, disaster relief, search and rescue, law enforcement, border patrol, military training, and testing and evaluation. Today, UASs perform border and port surveillance by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), help with scientific research and environmental monitoring by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), support public safety by law enforcement agencies, help state universities conduct research, and support various other missions for public (government) entities.

The small UAS (sUAS) operations that are being considered by the industry are crop monitoring/inspection; research and development; educational/academic uses; power-line/pipeline inspection in hilly or mountainous terrain; antenna inspections; aiding search and rescue operations (SAR) such as locating snow avalanche victims; bridge inspections; aerial photography; and wildlife nesting area evaluations.

While the industry waits for the much anticipated release of 14 CFR Part 107, AvMaSSI is your single source organization that can help you navigate through the complexities of obtaining a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) to operate your sUAS. AvMaSSI's extensive regulatory and safety management experience can you help develop the company operational documentation, as well as the development of safety cases depending on the completity of your operations.