AOPA supports the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System as long as they “do no harm” to current operators, said Heidi Williams, AOPA vice president of air traffic services and modernization.
Williams spoke on a panel covering UAS and how they fit into NextGen. “Integration means the burden to operate will be on the UAS operator/pilot without requiring additional equipage or restrictions for current manned operators,” she said.
The 2012 FAA Reauthorization Act, passed in February, included a congressional mandate for the FAA to create six UAS test sites. The FAA on March 7 asked for public comment on its selection process to choose the test sites, which are expected to provide data that will help the agency safely and efficiently integrate UAS into the same airspace with manned airplanes. The goal is to start introducing UAS into the National Airspace System by 2015.
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