Unmanned Aircraft Systems in US skies: Addressing privacy concerns

The integration of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) integration into US airspace is seen by many in industry and government as a bright spot for civil aviation’s future. Privacy issues related to the coming integration of UAS into US skies remain important – and entirely addressable, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said at a recent event in Washington, which was sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). (Here’s a story with details of the announcement.)

In announcing a groundbreaking roadmap for UAS integration, Administrator Huerta also outlined a plan for safety recommendations and a set of privacy requirements for the six UAS test sites around the country that will be announced by the end of the year.

The six sites will test UAS use for everything from agriculture to academic research. The test-site operators will be required to publish privacy policies for public comment. The FAA will use the policies – and public response to them – as it creates a UAS regulatory regime between now and 2015.

It’s a reasonable approach, added privacy attorney Jonathan Hart. Rather than legislating all the privacy requirements up front, a dialogue between UAS operators and the public will enable creation of regulations that both protect privacy and allow the full promise of UAS in improving and saving lives to come to fruition. (See this story for details of how UAS can civilians.)