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ARC Recommendations on Counter UAS, UAS Detection and Mitigation Systems
The FAA recently received the ultimate recommendations from the usDetection and Mitigation Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). This milestone follows the directive outlined within the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 to handle the secure integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Air Space (NAS). The ARC, comprised of representatives from diverse aviation communities, government entities, material experts, and stakeholders, began work in May 2023 with a give attention to ensuring the security and efficiency of the NAS amid the increasing presence of UAS.
Throughout its deliberations, the ARC emphasized key themes including legal considerations, real-time data sharing, communication protocols, research needs, and maintaining global leadership in the usindustry. These discussions culminated in a comprehensive set of recommendations geared toward guiding the FAA and relevant federal agencies in crafting policies and standards for UAS detection and mitigation systems.
The ARC’s recommendations underscore several crucial points:
- Policy decisions needs to be informed by an intensive understanding of the usindustry, with separate consideration for detection and mitigation issues.Robust research and evaluation are mandatory to determine minimum performance standards, safety frameworks, best practices, and training programs for UAS detection and mitigation systems.
- Testing protocols needs to be established, with third-party verification, for system testing and authorization.
- An entity answerable for monitoring UAS detection and mitigation operations in airport terminal airspace needs to be established.
- Clear approval processes needs to be developed for deployment at airports and non-airport facilities, with mandatory training and certification for system operators.
- A scalable regulatory framework, with privacy protections, needs to be implemented to control operational requirements and data sharing.
Read the total ARC recommendations document here.
The ARC’s recommendations aim to facilitate the secure and widespread adoption of UAS detection and mitigation systems while ensuring minimal interference with NAS operations. Notably, the recommendations emphasize the necessity for ongoing evaluation and adaptation as UAS technology continues to evolve.
Chairs of the ARC emphasized the critical importance of regulating UAS detection and mitigation systems, particularly in light of evolving UAS applications, each civilian and military. The recommendations reflect months of collaborative effort amongst diverse stakeholders, encompassing various use-case scenarios and addressing societal interests.
“Airports are chiefly concerned with ensuring the security and security of the traveling public, airport staff, and airport infrastructure,” said ACI-NA Executive Vice President Matt Cornelius, co-chair of the ARC. “We thank all of the experts who contributed their time and efforts to this vital initiative to develop a roadmap for providing the aviation community and others with the tools needed to guard critical infrastructure like airports. We sit up for continuing our work with the FAA and other relevant federal agencies in implementing the recommendations contain on this report.”
“The U.S. is positioned for global leadership in demonstrating how effective UAS detection and mitigation policies and technologies can ensure airspace safety and security, while enabling UAS market growth,” said Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer at AUVSI and co-chair of the ARC. “We thank the general public safety community and other stakeholders reflecting a various range of perspectives for his or her participation on the Committee, and this report reflects their input. We call on the FAA to maneuver swifty to implement the ARC plan to bring forward the advantages that detection and mitigation tools can provide to public safety, critical infrastructure owners and operators, and other entities, while also enabling expanded secure and secure drone operations.”
The ARC’s work signifies a big step towards effective regulation of UAS detection and mitigation, with the potential to function a model for other countries grappling with similar challenges. The FAA will now evaluate the recommendations to tell future regulatory measures, balancing innovation and safety within the rapidly evolving landscape of unmanned aviation.