Professional Pilot, September 2016

Important tech sessions at EAA AirVenture 2016 By Bill Gunn ATP CFII Compliance Manager State of Texas Aviation Division Unmanned aerial systems UAS FAA published the new FAR Part 107 dealing with unmanned aircraft flight operations A remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating has been created Small here is defined as an unmanned aircraft less than 55 lbs all up weight at takeoff Rated aircraft pilots at the private level or higher may also qualify to operate unmanned aircraft There are provisions requiring the remote PIC to ensure that the aircraft is in a safe condition for flight and the aircraft is registered as required by FAR 91203 Remote PICs are not required to hold a medical certificate However 10717 states No person may manipulate the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system or act as a remote pilot in command visual observer or direct participant in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft if he or she knows or has reason to know that he or she has a physical or mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of the small unmanned aircraft system Inflight emergencies and limits to hazardous operations are similar to manned aircraft requirements Flight limits are daytime only provisions for civil twilight operations are given Unaided visual line of sight flying of the UAS by the PIC and or visual observer unmanned aircraft must give way to all other aircraft or airborne vehicles Remote PICs may not operate more than 1 unmanned aircraft at a time The UAS may not carry hazardous cargo as defined in 49 CFR 1718 and may not operate over human beings not under cover or not associated with the flight operation Unmanned aircraft may not exceed 87 kts ground speed are limited to 400 ft AGL or if flown within 400 ft of a structure then they may not be higher than 400 ft above the structures immediate uppermost limit Furthermore a 3 statute mile visibility limit and 500 ft below 2000 feet horizontally from clouds are required Unmanned aircraft may not operate in class B C D or surface based E airspace unless approved by ATC prohibited or restricted airspace unless approved by the controlling agency and may not operate in a manner that interferes with traffic patterns at airports heliports or seaplane bases Reform for FAA 3rd Class Medical Certificates The FAA Extension Safety and Security Act of 2016 was signed into law on July 15 2016 The FAA has 1 year from that date to publish the new rules that meet the guidelines of the law What is known so far is that the rules concerning medication use will remain the same Medications the FAA disallows with an issued medical certificate will also apply under the no medical provision Certain established histories of conditions such as cardiovascular issues neurological epilepsy and severe mental health personality disorders for persons not currently holding a valid medical or have not held a valid medical including special issuance in the last 10 years from the date the final rules are enacted most likely will require a special issuance medical exam 1 time The new law states that aircraft up to 6 seats 5 passengers and 6000 lbs gross weight may be operated day and night VFR IFR up to 18000 ft MSL This no higher than 3rd medical rule will only apply in the USA and the PIC or any required crew member may not operate the aircraft for compensation or hire nor in the furtherance of a business Thus business owners who are also pilots could only fly as a required crew member on pleasure flights not associated with the business operation Pilots will be required to visit a physician at least once every 4 years and complete a free online aeromedical course every 2 years Piston av fuels initiative PAFI Piston aviation fuel is the source of almost half of the airborne lead contamination FAA states that more than 167000 aircraft in the USA use 100LL fuel containing tetra ethyl lead The Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency EPA authority to set emission standards but not to determine the production of aviation fuels It is of note that the EPA to date has no current emission standards for piston aircraft although turbine aviation engines are subject to emission standards EPA plans to issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making NPRM in 2017 with a final rule proposed for 2018 concerning endangerment from legacy aviation fuels If an endangerment finding is determined the FAA then must act on it the plan being the use of unleaded replacement fuels PAFI briefed at EAA AirVenture that the 2 unleaded fuel formulas Shell UL100 ASTM D7960 and Swift Enterprises UL102 ASTM D7719 are on target to complete testing by the end of 2018 PAFI is committed to a replacement fuel suitable for all piston aircraft If both of the formulas currently in testing meet standards then the assigned ASTM standards for these fuels will be available to producers Post 2018 the PAFI team will form a transition team to carry through getting replacement fuels in the field It is likely that lists of suitable airframe engine combinations will be published in the Federal Register Part of the standard is any replacement fuel must be mixable miscible with 100LL for the transition period FAA has created a remote pilot certificate for operators of drones weighing less than 55 lbs Limitations include daytime flights only and unaided visual line of sight of the UAS by the remote PIC 54 PROFESSIONAL PILOT September 2016