Robert Blair isn’t waiting around for federal aviation officials to work out rules for UAS…
Idaho farmer Robert Blair isn’t waiting around for federal aviation officials to work out rules for UAS… Nor should he. FAA has publicly stated that farmers can fly small UAS over their own property for their own purposes as long as they follow the “Special Rule for Model Aircraft” established by Congress as part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
The special rule effectively exempts model aircraft (recreational small UAS) from regulation provided the activity is conducted within the safety programming of a recognized community-based organization. The rule also states that such aircraft must remain well clear and must not interfere with manned aircraft operations, and must be flown within the visual line of sight of the operator. The operator must also contact the airport and/or air traffic control when operating within 5 miles of a public airport.
AMA is currently expanding its safety program to support the agricultural use of sUAS and is working jointly with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) in an effort to get this segment of the UAS industry up and flying. If all goes as planned, the AMA/AUVSI Precision Ag Project should be up and running in the first half of 2014.
Click the link below and read Robert Blair’s story by Gosia Wozniacka in the Daily News Online…
Idaho Farmer Pioneers UAS for Smart Agriculture
Rich Hanson
AMA Government and Regulatory Affairs
We’ve also been conducting research on precision agriculture in Georgia. Middle Georgia State College, partnered with Guided Systems Technoligies, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia Centers of Innovation and the Sunbelt Expo, routinely flies spektrum imaging UAV operations of UGA research crops at the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie Georgia. Thus far all of those operations have been conducted under a CoA’s (Certificate of Authorization) issued by the FAA.
I WOULD LIKE TO START A BUSINESS WORKING WITH POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND SEARCH AND RESCUE. FLYING MY UAV’s. WHAT WILL TAKE TO GET A COA FROM THE FAA. THANK YOU FROM STAN WINCHESTER
Stanley, Certificates of Authorization (COAs) are issued to public entities such as local police and fire departments for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). In order for you to participate as either a government worker or a volunteer, the agency would need to start a UAS program and apply for and obtain a COA from the FAA.
Rich Hanson
AMA Government and Regulatory Affairs