HAI’s new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) committee is meeting for the first time this week. The committee is comprised of 20 members from manned and unmanned operators, UAS manufacturers, and academia. In addition, advisors from the FAA and NASA and an observer from the NTSB are on hand to provide support.

On its first day, the committee heard from Marke “Hoot” Gibson, senior advisor to the FAA Administrator on UAS integration, who provided an overview of the FAA’s vision for the future of UAS regulation and integration into the national airspace system.

The committee also discussed initial topics it should focus on. The meeting will continue on Wednesday, with members beginning to work on the nuts and bolts of committee operation.

The HAI UAS committee’s initial meeting took place on the same day that the FAA’s task force on registration for UAS formally began its work.

In his opening remarks to the task force, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said registration will provide an opportunity to education new operators about airspace rules so they can use their UAS safely. “We realize that most people want to use their aircraft safely for enjoyment,” he said. “Registration benefits users and the government alike because it encourages education while providing a mechanism for helping the FAA fulfill its mission of keeping the nation’s skies safe.”

The task force is charged with answering three primary questions: which UAS should be registered, what should the registration process be, and how will registration be verified and marked on the aircraft?

Share your thoughts on the three questions by emailing uas@rotor.org.