Congress to hold UAV safety hearing Oct. 7

The US House of Representatives will hold an Oct. 7 hearing on unmainned aerial vehicle (UAV) safety issues.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s aviation subcommittee said in a statement that increasing UAV sightings by pilots and air traffic controllers “have raised safety questions among stakeholders and the public. This hearing will enable the subcommittee to better understand the nature and extent of safety issues posed by the growing use of [UAVs] in the national airspace.”

Among those testifying at the hearing will be FAA deputy administrator Michael Whitaker and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) president Tim Canoll.

In background material, the House aviation subcommittee pointed out that in 2010 FAA estimated 15,000 UAVs would be in operation in the US by 2020. In fact, the subcommittee noted, UAV sales are already exceeding 15,000 each month, adding, “The available data does not distinguish between those that will be purchased or sold as ‘model aircraft’ and used by hobbyists or other [UAVs] used for personal or commercial purposes.”

The subcommittee warned that “ unauthorized operations of unmainned aircraft create the possibility of a midair collision with a conventional aircraft that could result in injuries or loss of life.