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Recent developments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicate a significant shift in the regulation of commercial drone operations, with the agency having granted permission to several operators, including Zipline International and Wing Aviation LLC, to conduct flights without the need for visual observers. This change is noteworthy as it marks a step forward in integrating drone deliveries into shared airspace.
In traditional aviation, aircraft movements are closely monitored through communication with air traffic controllers who ensure safe takeoff, trajectory, and landing for all flights. This coordinated approach enhances aviation safety and operational efficiency. Drones, however, do not follow the same oversight mechanism; instead, commercial drone operators have had to rely on informal communications to avoid conflicts in the airspace.
Currently, Zipline reveals that communication between drone operators can involve basic methods such as phone calls or text messages regarding flight plans. Although these practices have sufficed thus far, they are not sustainable as drone delivery services expand. Recognizing this, the FAA has begun facilitating a more sophisticated framework for drone airspace management.
FAA Endorses BVLOS Operations
The FAA’s latest authorizations empower companies like Zipline and Wing to deliver goods using uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) while ensuring safe separation between flights. The FAA remains engaged in overseeing these operations to maintain safety standards in the rapidly evolving drone sector.
Historically, regulations required pilots to have visual contact with their drones during flight. However, advancements in air traffic management technology are paving the way for routine operations beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), enhancing the efficiency and safety of drone deployments.
Key to this evolution is the implementation of UAS traffic management (UTM) services, which enable operators to exchange vital information concerning their intended flight routes and activities with other authorized users in the airspace. This collaborative sharing is aimed at preventing close encounters among drones, thus promoting safer operations.
Understanding UTM Services
The concept of UTM revolves around the cooperation among drone operators to communicate their flight plans effectively, minimizing the potential for in-air collisions.
Without UTM, validation of flight paths, safety checks, and compliance documentation can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Zipline emphasizes that with UTM technology, these processes can be completed in a matter of seconds, facilitating a smoother workflow for drone operations.
The company has dedicated substantial effort to refine and enhance its operational protocols to support an increase in the volume of commercial drone deliveries while upholding safety and regulatory standards. As the market for drone services scales, the automation of these process improvements is crucial, according to Zipline’s assessments.
The FAA has stipulated that all drone flights must stay below an altitude of 400 feet and maintain a safe distance from manned aircraft. Initial flights utilizing UTM services are set to commence later this summer, particularly in the Dallas region, where the agency anticipates issuing additional authorizations soon.
This recent approval is part of the FAA’s ongoing initiative to develop the Normalizing UAS BVLOS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This regulation aims to enhance operational capabilities for drone operators while ensuring safety remains paramount, even as they expand their scope of activities. The FAA has indicated that it is on schedule to unveil the NPRM within the year, bolstered by robust support from Congress during the recent FAA reauthorization process.
Source
www.therobotreport.com