Last month NAAA submitted comments on Airobotics Inc.’s petition seeking relief from specified safety requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. Airobotics is seeking relief to operate a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection operations. Because of the BVLOS request, the operation does not fall under part 107, which prohibits BVLOS.
The petitioner requested relief from airworthiness certification requirements, maintenance requirements and pilot certifications. No adequate mitigating safety equipment or procedures are mentioned in the request for relief. In the description of relief and supporting documents, Airobotics stated that its operations would occur only over private property with permission from the property owner/controller or public property with permission from local authorities. None of these conditions preclude the possibility of other aircraft operating in the National Airspace (NAS), which is not privately owned and is accessible and necessary for agricultural operations. NAAA, in its response to the Airobotics petition, reminded the FAA that short of TFRs, NAS is open to the public.
While it has become routine for UAS operators to request relief from the FARs, NAAA continues to comment against changes that make the airspace less safe for agricultural operations. To view the petition for relief or submit your own comments, click here. NAAA’s comments are available here. Comments are due by May 10.
 for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection
operations. Because of the BVLOS request, the operation does not fall
under part 107, which prohibits BVLOS.){kind=small}
