It seems like every day I receive news concerning the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This phenomenon is catching on like a wildland fire. Earthbound entrepreneurs are seizing the moment, reaching for a gold mine in the sky.
I don’t see UAVs and their inherent problems going away, only becoming more of an issue for agricultural aviation worldwide. Unless some sort of action is taken in the U.S. by the FAA, or maybe even the FCC, we could see a UAV being the gift of the season at Christmas time. My confidence in the general public is not one of believing this is a good thing.
If I am not mistaken, the position of the NAAA is for UAVs to be equipped with a strobe light and ADS-B out technology. I am not against that. However, this concept would require ag-aircraft to have a receiver onboard. Maybe the receiver could be incorporated into the GPS unit.
The UAV should have exceptional markings with high visibility strobes. Even then, it is going to be difficult to see them in the air. All of these suggestions increase the gross weight of the UAV, requiring it to be larger and more expensive.
My idea would be for pilots of these UAVs be required to file a flight plan on a specific web site giving time of day, duration, altitude and location of the flight. Ag-operators would subscribe to alerts from the web site for locations that affect their operations. In combination with a transponder alert, knowing there will be a UAV in the area during spraying operations, hopefully, will give pilots a head-up advantage.
With the UAV being built larger to accommodate a transponder and strobes, which both require an electrical system, it should be to some degree easier to see than a smaller counterpart. Also, as the price of a UAV climbs, less would be sold to “Regular Joe’s”.
A high price tag would also tend to make UAV operations a commercial endeavor that ag-operators could become part of; no more UAV Christmas presents. I have always thought the ag-operator should view this technology as an opportunity to offer more services to their customers.
I do not envision any significant spraying operations being carried out by UAVs. No doubt there is technology available today to spray with them at some level. It has been done in Japan with mini-helicopters for years. During my career, and probably not during anyone else’s career who is reading this editorial, UAVs won’t be spraying the typical field that ag-pilots treat.
When it is all said and done, there needs to be latitude given to those “who were here first”. Aircraft operators and pilots have to adhere to a specific set of rules called the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). Pilots must be of sound health, tested every two years for the issuance of a Second Class Medical. The aircraft must pass annual inspections governed by the FAA. How is it UAVs and their operators do not have to do the same?
Until next month,
Keep Turning…
