Registration, consent needed to operate drones at Hanscom

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  New guidelines require users of unmanned aircraft systems weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds must register them with the Federal Aviation Administration and not fly them on base without first contacting and receiving consent from Hanscom Field's air traffic control tower staff.

According to Miguel Rodriquez, the acting air traffic manager at Hanscom Field, the tower will evaluate the operator's intentions and determine the safety of the operation.

"If the operation is deemed unsafe, the tower may deny the request and state the reason for the denial," he said. "If the operation does not present a hazard, the tower will simply record the information and the operator will have met their obligation to notify the Air Traffic Control Tower."

He added that UAS operators remain accountable for notifying Hanscom Field, which is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority, and follow all federal, state, local and military guidance.
 
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, sales of commercial drones are at an all-time high, with more than 700,000 purchased in 2015.

"Given the popularity of drones, we anticipate a possible increase in their use by base residents who may have received them as Christmas or holiday gifts," said Galen Williams, 66th Air Base Group chief of safety. "We want to ensure Hanscom residents are aware of the strict restrictions in place, as flight safety is certainly impacted by these small unmanned aircraft so close to the civilian airport."

FAA guidelines on drones are extensive, but some of the basic rules to consider include the following:

- Unmanned aircraft must give way to all manned aviation activities, which include and are not limited to airplanes, gliders, parachutists and more. If it flies or glides and it manned, it has the right of way.

- The operator must remain within visual line of sight of the small unmanned aircraft when in use. In addition, operators should fly their model aircraft no higher than 400 feet and remain below any surrounding obstacles when possible.

- Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly involved in the operation.

The interim final rule can be read here.

In addition, the FAA divides the national airspace into categories: A, B, C, D, E and G.

- Class A is 18,000 feet above sea level, and personnel must be communicating with the FAA to operate at that level. So just remember, Class A is "above" where small unmanned aircraft should fly. 

- Class B/C/D is the airspace around airports and requires two-way communications with the airport's tower, so small unmanned aircraft need to remember not to fly within 5 nautical miles of an open airport/airfield/heliport, military or civilian, unless the UAS operator notifies the airport operator and the Air Traffic Control Tower, if present, and is granted approval, Rodriquez said.  

- Class G airspace exists around uncontrolled airports (no two-way communications), but small unmanned aircraft must still remain clear by the 5 nautical miles.

A complete description of controlled airspace can be read here.

"Drones pose real and significant threats to manned aircraft," said Williams. "If you become the latest close call and you're not following the rules, you may not only lose your aircraft, but you may be subject to significant FAA fines in the most severe cases."

To assist with registering and marking small unmanned aircraft, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration provides a web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small UASs at www.faa.gov/uas/registration.

Registrants 13 years of age or older will need to provide their name, home address and an email address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web application will generate a certificate of aircraft registration/proof of ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the aircraft.

Owners using model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.

The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee through Jan. 20.

Detailed information on drone use, to include rules, regulations and registration can be found at www.faa.gov/uas and www.knowbeforeyoufly.org.

For further information on flying small unmanned aircraft on base, or in Massachusetts, contact the 66th Air Base Group Safety Office at 781-225-5584.