FAA Misses Deadline to Create UAV Pilot Program
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has sent a letter to the secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Ray Lahood, and acting Federal Aviation Administration administrator Michael Huerta, urging them to create the legally mandated pilot program for the integration of pilotless planes into the national airspace system (NAS).
“The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, signed into law on February 14, 2012, required your agency to establish a pilot program to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system at six test ranges. The law required the test range program to be put in place not later than 180 days after the passage of the FAA bill, or August 12, 2012. Unfortunately, this deadline has passed without the FAA meeting this crucial benchmark,” said the letter.
