FAA Faces Significant Barriers to Safely Integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System

Citation
Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, FAA Faces Significant Barriers to Safely Integrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the National Airspace System (Report No. AV-2014-061) (June 2014).

Overview
This Report emphasized that the FAA needs an implementation plan that would identify the means, necessary resources, and schedule to safely and expeditiously integrate civil UAS into the national airspace. The proposed implementation plan contains several hundred tasks and other activities needed to complete the UAS integration process, including:


 * identifying gaps in current UAS technologies, regulations, standards, policies, or procedures;
 * developing new technologies, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures that would support safe UAS operations; and
 * identifying necessary activities to advance routine UAS operations in the national airspace, including the development of guidance materials, training, and procedures for certification of aircraft.