Commercial UAS Modernization Act

To establish an interim rule for the operation of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Commercial UAS Modernization Act 2. Interim rule for the operation of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes (a) In general Subtitle B of title III of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Public Law 112–95 337. Operation of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes (a) In general An individual may operate a small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes without an airworthiness certificate within the United States, subject to the requirements under subsection (b) and the operating restrictions under subsection (c) during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Commercial UAS Modernization Act Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (b) General requirements (1) Liability insurance A small unmanned aircraft may not be operated for commercial purposes during the period set forth in subsection (a) unless the Administrator receives an attestation that the owner of such aircraft has a liability insurance policy covering the operation of such aircraft. (2) Registration A small unmanned aircraft may not be operated for commercial purposes unless the owner has registered the aircraft as required by the Federal Aviation Administration. (3) Testing requirements (A) Exam development Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of the Commercial UAS Modernization Act (B) Requirements An individual may not operate a small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes unless such individual has— (i) received a passing grade on the test developed under subparagraph (A); (ii) passed a proficiency test administered by a test site selected pursuant to section 332(c); and (iii) demonstrated the ability to fly the aircraft in accordance with the operating restrictions set forth in subsection (c). (4) Certification A small unmanned aircraft may not be operated for commercial purposes until the operator of a test site selected pursuant to section 332(c), in collaboration with a designated airworthiness representative, certifies that the small unmanned aircraft— (A) meets the requirements for small unmanned aircraft set forth in the notice of proposed rulemaking referred to in subsection (a); and (B) is capable of operating within the limits described in subsection (c). (c) Operating restrictions During the period set forth in subsection (a), small unmanned aircraft operated for commercial purposes— (1) may only be operated under visual line of sight rules; (2) may not be operated higher than 500 feet above ground level; (3) may not be operated unless the operator has prior authorization from the air traffic control facility having jurisdiction over that airspace— (A) in Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace; or (B) within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport; (4) may only be operated in daylight conditions; (5) shall yield right of way to all other users of the National Airspace System; (6) may not be operated by any individual with any physical or mental condition that the individual knows, or has reason to know, would interfere with the safe operation of the aircraft; and (7) may only be operated after a preflight inspection (as described in the notice of proposed rulemaking referred to in subsection (a)). (d) Accident reporting The operator of a small unmanned aircraft that is involved in any accident causing personal injury or property damage, other than to the small unmanned aircraft, shall report such accident to the Federal Aviation Administration not later than 2 days after such accident. 338. Micro UAS operations (a) Micro UAS classification The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall provide for a micro UAS classification of unmanned aircraft systems, the aircraft component of which may not weigh more than 4.4 pounds, including payload. (b) Micro UAS operational limitations The operation of a micro UAS shall be subject to the exemptions under subsection (c) only if the micro UAS is operated— (1) less than 400 feet above ground level; (2) at an airspeed of not greater than 40 knots; (3) within the visual line of sight of the operator; (4) during daylight; and (5) at least 5 statute miles from the geographic center of an airport as denoted on a current aeronautical chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration, except that upon notice to the airport operator and air traffic control tower, such airport operator may allow an individual to operate a micro UAS within 5 statute miles of a tower-controlled airport. (c) Micro UAS exemptions (1) An operator of a micro UAS that complies with the limitations of operation under subsection (b) shall not be required to pass any aeronautical knowledge test or meet any age or experience requirement, including any requirements under section 44703 of title 49, United States Code, part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, and any other rule or regulation pertaining to airman certification. (2) A micro UAS and the component parts and equipment of such micro UAS shall not be required to meet airworthiness certification standards or to obtain certificates of airworthiness. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Sec. 337. Operation of small unmanned aircraft for commercial purposes. Sec. 338. Micro UAS operations. . 3. Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft (a) In general Subtitle B of title III of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Public Law 112–95 339. Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft (a) Appointment The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (referred to in this section as the Administrator Deputy Associate Administrator (b) Principal duties The Deputy Associate Administrator shall create an achievable comprehensive research and development plan for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System that— (1) takes into account work being done at other Federal agencies, in conjunction with their industry collaborators; (2) is based on an initial audit of current unmanned aircraft activity across the Federal Government in order to identify gaps and overlaps; and (3) allows for programmatic exemptions based on previous analysis. (c) Other issues The Deputy Associate Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator, shall develop strategies for resolving— (1) unmanned aircraft spectrum issues; (2) barriers to unmanned aircraft operating beyond line of sight; (3) barriers to allowing payload carriage and the feasibility of developing a classification of small UAS air carriers; and (4) barriers to utilizing automated unmanned aircraft systems. (d) Exemptions (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Commercial UAS Modernization Act (2) Exemptions The exemptions authorized under paragraph (1) may include— (A) beyond line of sight operations; (B) programmatic exemptions based on previous analysis; (C) extended visual line of sight and marginal visual flight rules weather conditions; and (D) heavier unmanned vehicles. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Sec. 339. Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft. . 4. Joint Aircraft System Research and Development Data Collection and Analysis Program (a) Establishment The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall establish a joint aircraft system research and development data collection and analysis program at the William J. Hughes Technical Center (referred to in this section as the Center (b) Research and development priorities The Director of the Center shall set priorities for data collection, analysis, and research under the program established under subsection (a), including identifying safety standards for detect and avoid, command and control, autonomous aircraft systems, and air traffic management for beyond visual line of sight operations for such aircraft. (c) Use of test sites The program established under subsection (a) shall utilize the 6 unmanned aircraft system test sites of the Federal Aviation Administration to— (1) conduct research; (2) collect data; (3) develop quarterly milestones to expedite commercial unmanned aircraft system operations; and (4) work with other Federal agencies, the Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, federally funded research and development centers, industry, academia, and others, as appropriate, to implement commercial unmanned aircraft system operations. (d) Air Traffic Management Pilot Program (1) Implementation The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, acting through the Center, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, shall implement an air traffic management pilot program to research and test a new regulatory structure for commercial and other operations of small unmanned aircraft in controlled and uncontrolled airspace below 1,200 feet above ground level. (2) Management testing The Center shall partner with a neutral third party to test the management of small unmanned aircraft in the airspace described in paragraph (1). (e) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Director of the Center shall submit a report that summarizes the actions taken under subsections (b), (c), and (d) to— (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate (3) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives

Summary: Commercial UAS Modernization Act This bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to permit an individual to operate a small commercial unmanned aircraft without an airworthiness certificate within the United States until the effective date of a final rule based on the notice of proposed rulemaking "Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems" issued on February 23, 2015, subject to the following requirements: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive an attestation that the aircraft owner has liability insurance covering its operation; the owner must register the aircraft; the operator must pass an initial aeronautical knowledge test developed by the FAA and a proficiency test administered by a test site for such aircraft; the aircraft may be operated for commercial purposes only in daylight conditions, under visual line of sight rules, lower than 500 feet above ground level, and only after a preflight inspection; and the aircraft shall yield right of way to all other users of the National Airspace System. Such an aircraft may not be operated: (1) until the operator of a test site certifies that it meets the requirements in the rulemaking notice and can operate within such restrictions; (2) unless the operator has prior authorization from the air traffic control facility having jurisdiction over the Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport; and (3) by any individual with any physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe operation of the aircraft. The operator of a such an aircraft involved in an accident causing personal injury or property damage must report it to the FAA within two days. The FAA shall provide for a micro UAS classification of unmanned aircraft systems, the aircraft component of which may not weigh more than 4.4 pounds, including payload. The operation of such a micro shall be subject to specified restrictions. The bill directs the FAA to: appoint a Deputy Associate Administrator for Unmanned Aircraft who shall create a research and development plan for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System; establish a joint aircraft system research and development data collection and analysis program at the William J. Hughes Technical Center; and implement an air traffic management pilot program to research and test a new regulatory structure for operations of such aircraft in airspace below 1,200 feet.