The Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Rulemaking Committee submitted recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish framework for classifying and flying drones above people, according to the Toy Industry Association. The recommendations will be used as a basis for an FAA-proposed rule that will be issued this year.
TIA representatives, supported by the majority of Aviation Rulemaking Committee members, requested for the committee to review pilot certification and other operator requirements proposed in the small UAS rule that may unnecessarily restrict recreational use of toy drones.
The FAA has been requested to establish four risk categories of “micro UAS” that may fly over people. Toy drones weighing less than 0.55 pounds fit in the first category, and the committee has decided that these products are relatively safe to fly over people and don’t need any additional operational or performance requirements. The report recommends manufacturers to label packaging with the aircraft weight and any other labels developed by the industry. Manufacturers can declare compliance by submitting self-declarations to the FAA.
The FAA is working on an expedited rulemaking timeline and has started drafting a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the small UAS rule for micro UAS operations. The FAA developed a registration system for recreational owners of small UAS weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds, and noncompliant owners could face civil and criminal penalties.
