What commercial use of small UAS within the national airspace means to Kansas State
Friday, Aug. 26, 2016
Kansas State Polytechnic’s UAS program is happy to help fellow Wildcats understand the Part 107 regulations so the technology is used in a safe, legal manner across the university.
New FAA rules — Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations — for small unmanned aerial systems, or sUAS, for commercial operators will go into effect on Aug. 29. Kansas State University’s Polytechnic Campus can help sUAS operators understand the changes and how to comply with the new rule. Read a complete PDF document with information about the new rule on page 598.
The new rules’ provisions are designed to minimize risks to nonparticipating people and property — in the air and on the ground. The regulations require pilots to keep an unmanned aircraft within visual line of sight. The new regulations also address height and speed restrictions and other operational limits, such as prohibiting flights over unprotected people on the ground who are not directly participating in the UAS operation.
K-State Polytechnic is an FAA approved testing center for the remote pilot in command certificate, or RPIC, and offers a comprehensive sUAS Remote Pilot in Command training course to help prepare individuals to take and pass the exam. Individuals who complete and pass the RPIC exam will be able to conduct operations once they have obtained a temporary RPIC certificate, if applicable, or received their RPIC in the mail.
How to operate under Part 107
Under the final rule, the person actually flying a UAS must be at least 16 years old and have a RPIC with a small UAS rating, or be directly supervised by someone with such a certificate. To qualify for a remote pilot certificate, an individual falls into one of two categories:
1. Applicants with Part 61 Certificates: A person who holds a part 61 pilot certificate, or manned pilots license — except a student pilot certificate — and has completed a flight review within the previous 24 calendar months may elect to apply using the following process:
Complete the online course — Part 107 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ALC-451 — located on the FAA Safety Team website and receive a completion certificate.
2. Applicants without Part 61 Certificates: Under this category, individuals must pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved knowledge-testing center and take a recurrent knowledge test every two years. The test is not to be taken lightly. The FAA wants to ensure all RPIC operators understand the responsibilities associated with flying a sUAS in the National Airspace System. Preparation for this test is critical to pass the exam. Example questions and testing information are available online.
Kansas State University has many sUAS operational areas that are closer than five nautical miles to an airfield, including Ashland Bottoms near Manhattan. Thesmall UAS Advisory Circular, AC 107-2, states that operations in Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace, or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, are not allowed unless that person has prior authorization from air traffic control. Manhattan, Salina, Hays, Topeka, Wichita and several others fall within this category.
Kansas State University’s UAS department is currently working with Manhattan and Salina air traffic control authorities to obtain such authority. If you are interested in conducting operations under Part 107, we ask that you coordinate with us, as we are already working with air traffic control authorities to determine if operations under Part 107 will be allowed. In the meantime, our current Public Certificates of Waiver or Authorization and Section 333 exemptions remain valid, including agreements with air traffic control authorities.
If you have questions regarding any of the material listed, please contact Travis Balthazor, flight operations manager at Kansas State University’s UAS department, at travisb@k-state.edu or 785-826-8557.
