A way to comply with Part 91??

[Majortomski]

Hi all, I don't nomally follow the UAV thread, I only have a read when it pops up on my search all forums activity.

Any way I know that one of the big factors with UAV's will be to keep the FAA happy.

Looks like these folks have a tool that can be the source of see and avoid data

http://www.fosterflight.com/

Tom

[mwraight]

Its going to take quite a bit more than that to make the FAA happy. For example, UAVs are most likely going to need to have a certificated airframe, a pilot training program following FAA regualtions, the ability to recieve and respond to Air Traffic Control commands, an encoding transponder, and that's probably just scraping the surface.

I took a look at that gizmo...as a full scale pilot, I wouldn't want to trust my life to it. I wouldn't rely on it very heavily as I doubt its ability to effectively do what it promises to do.

[Tuner]

It even says right on the sight that this does not exclude the pilot from his responsibilities under part 91.

Let see:
Accept AirTraffic Controll commands
Accept Commands from Commercial Aircraft
Transponder
Sense and Avoid capabilities
a Ballistics chute would probably also be needed so the plane can avoid high speed terrestrial crashes and have the ability to ditch the plane mid flight if or when it gets out of control.

But thats my take on it.

[mwraight]

Yup, that's my take on it too...

and I'm working in the UAV industry, closely watching the legislation development.

While the 'gadget' is cool and nifty - I have serious doubts about the claims made - and I'll bet its worth a tinker's damn. Kind of like the portable lie detector I bought a couple of years ago!!

[kd7ost]

Ground control to Majortomski, :D

Thanks for posting that. I for one expect devices like that to allow small UAV's to operate in some controlled environments in the future. Aerosonde is working on a similar system.

Dan

[Majortomski]

Ground control to Majortomski, :D

Dan


Glad someone finally caught that.

I agree that the device I pointed out is not and end all solution but it is a technology that could be adapted to give the UAV operator some form of see to start avoidance.