UAS Integration Challenges in the National Airspace System

UAS Integration Challenges in the National Airspace System

From as early as the 1990s, all unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operate on tight limits within the National Airspace System (NAS). UAS has mainly been involved in public operations (that is, military and security) until quite recent. However, there is a growing list of other uses to which UAS can be put. These include communications, broadcast, aerial photography, monitoring environmental conditions, surveying land and crops, and protecting specific infrastructures. Through UAS, civil and public operators could find new ways of enhancing the nation’s aviation operations. This can be done through decreased costs and operational efficiency while NAS safety is kept intact.

The mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is to…