Pilot Qualifications and Training in UAS Air Carrier Operations

Integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace system (NAS) is a high priority for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). President Trump and his Administration created the Integration Pilot Program (IPP) that facilitated the DOT to enter into agreements with State, local, and tribal governments for testing complex UAS operations. These government entities have engaged with various UAS manufacturers and operators for a wide variety of operations. Many of these operations can be conducted under the framework of the small UAS rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107. However, many of the desired operations are considered air carrier and therefore are outside the applicability of that part. As a result, many operators are now seeking approval to operate under 14 CFR part 135. The pilot qualification, experience, and training requirements in this part are comprehensive and tailored to traditional aviation with pilots on board the aircraft. This presentation will describe the FAA’s approach to qualifying pilots of UAS for these kinds of operations under part 135