Report: Big Issues Remain Before Drones Can Safely Access National Airspace

coondoggie writes The story sounds familiar – while the use of unmanned [aerial vehicles], sometimes illegally, is increasing, there are myriad challenges to ultimately allow them safe access to national airspace. The watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office issued a report on the integration of unmanned aerial systems, as it calls them, in US national airspace (NAS) today ahead of a congressional hearing on the topic. As it has noted in past reports, the GAO said the main issues continue to include the ability for drones to avoid other aircraft in the sky; what backup network is available and how should the system behave if it loses its communications link.

Comments

For safe integration with existing air traffic

[DanDD]

At the minimum, these are the requirements for somewhat safe integration into the existing airspace. Anything less is asking for big troubles for any private and commercial air traffic that shares the sky with these things:

1. Mode S Transponder
2. ADSB In & Out
3. Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
4. May only operate in areas with active radar coverage under IFR flight plan (some legal airplanes do not have a transponder!)
4. Operators must be in constant contact and control of the drone and must be licensed pilots
5. altitude & airspace restrictions ( right of way: licensed drone rotorcraft fixed-wing airship )

Otherwise, they can keep below 300 AGL and in line of sight with their operators.

Anything less and drones will be a threat to anyone that flies on any airplane, anywhere.