The Current Status of UAVs

Drones, or sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) as the FAA likes to call them, are an ever more common sight in the skies today. As systems become more advanced and available to the general public, the commercial application of such systems will continue to increase. They are being used for a plethora of applications, from real estate inspections and agricultural photography and mapping, to research and training at institutions like the University of Michigan who uses sUAS for

 "Aerial data collection in support of aeronautical and avionics research and development, student instruction on the operation of UAS and their associated systems, environmental monitoring, natural resource management/exploration, geographical mapping applications, photogrammetry, water resource studies, thermal imagery to locate and census study organisms, precision agriculture and vegetation mapping, wildlife/forestry monitoring, biological studies, and telecommunications research and development" (@sUAS, 2016)

 Currently, commercial sUAS operators need to apply for a Section 333 exemption which allows sUAS to operate in the National Airspace System until the final ruling is issued on the new FAA regulation regarding sUAS.

 "By law, any aircraft operation in the national airspace requires a certificated and registered aircraft, a licensed pilot, and operational approval. Section 333 of theFAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) (PDF) grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine whether an airworthiness certificate is required for a UAS to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS). This authority is being leveraged to grant case-by-case authorization for certain unmanned aircraft to perform commercial operations prior to the finalization of the Small UAS Rule, which will be the primary method for authorizing small UAS operations once it is complete." (FAA, 2016)

As of 9/28/2016, the FAA has granted 5,552 such exemptions. Also, operators are required to comply with Part 107 regarding operations of the sUAS. Some of the regulations include maintaining unaided line of sight with the sUAS, only operating between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset, at or below 400 feet AGL and at 100mph or less. 

I see sUAS become more and more integrated as technology advances, and the cheaper operating costs become more attractive to companies who may have used conventional aircraft in the past for applications such as survey, inspections, aerial photography and agriculture mapping and spraying. There is a possibility that the requirement of all aircraft to have ADS-B in the next few years might allow sUAS to piggyback off of this technology and allow for better airspace deconfliction. The largest issue I currently see is the lack of a see and avoid capability. This is the reason behind the 400' AGL and line of sight limitations currently imposed on sUAS. Also, conventional aircraft pilots receive a large amount of training on airspace regulations, collision avoidance, and other important subject necessary to the safe operation of an aircraft in the national airspace system. Current sUAS regulations do not require this level of training for remote pilots and this lack of knowledge of safe operations could lead to aircraft and sUAS collisions, resulting in possible loss of life. There is definitely a perception among pilots of conventional aircraft that sUAS and their operators are dangerously intruding into airspace that they know little about, resulting in a higher risk to those pilots and conventional aircraft. I don't believe that all remote pilots are unaware of the proper rules and regulations to follow, it's the amateurs that order their done off of Amazon, take it outside their house next to an airport, and fly it with know concern or care of the risks involved. All it takes is one drone to hit an airplane on short final at the right time and spot to cause a terrible accident. I've personally seen drones being operated within 5 miles of Willow Run airport in direct violation of the current regulations. 

The military has been using drones for quite awhile now. From small man-portable units for reconnaissance, to large aircraft sized drones used for offensive capabilities. Their integration has been both efficient and cost effective. Current military drones require less fuel and less maintenance, resulting in lower operating costs, as well as the initial cost of procurement, which is much lower than a comparable aircraft. They also allow the military to conduct missions, both reconnaissance and attack, with a much lower risk to American service members. These drones feed photos and video directly to troops on the ground as well as commanders in the field, allowing for much greater efficiency and precision in ground operations, as well as providing greater security to ground elements due to a real-time "eye in the sky". As far as the ethics of giving a drone an attack capability, I don't really see an ethical dilemma. These drones are not making the shoot/don't shoot determination on their own, they are simply and attack aircraft that has a pilot who is not in the aircraft. The trigger is still pulled by a human being, which in my opinion makes it no different than someone on the ground with a rifle. The added benefit to this arrangement is that there is not an American life at risk when using a drone. I do draw the line however on the use of military drones used in an attack capacity on American soil. 

There are quite a few jobs open to remote pilots and sUAS operators. A common one is an individual purchasing their own sUAS, applying for an exemption, and advertising their services to real estate agencies and individuals wanting aerial photography for any number of reasons, from weddings to building inspections. There are jobs available supporting military operations, http://job-openings.monster.com/monster/24c3bba8-26d9-4a8a-a020-315191bf692c?mescoid=1500134001001&jobPosition=1# as well as jobs that require you to have your own drone to use inspecting roofing: http://www.indeed.com/job/uavdrone-pilot-17fe0c65fb617a46

References:

 @sUAS. (2016). FAA 333 exemption holders – commercial drone operators in America. Retrieved October 15, 2016, from http://www.suasnews.com/faa-drone-333-exemption-holders/ 

 By The Numbers Air Traffic Plans and Publications Environmental Reviews Flight Information. (n.d.). Section 333. Retrieved October 15, 2016, from https://www.faa.gov/uas/beyond_the_basics/section_333/