Highlights from the FAA Symposium, Prepping for the Remote ID Deadline, + New Drone Tenders from Barbados & Botswana

Read time: 8 Minutes

Welcome back!

This week, we're shining the spotlight on a huge industry event that happened in our very own hometown, Baltimore - the 2023 FAA Drone Symposium.

Co-hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), this policy-focused symposium brought together a broad range of international aviation experts, industry leaders, and government agencies.

The focus of this year's symposium was "Time to Accelerate." It centered around the FAA's ongoing work to safely integrate drones into the national airspace, while simultaneously creating a regulatory framework to expedite advanced operations, such as Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM). More on this later.

Alongside the symposium was the inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Summit, focusing on how air taxis and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will revolutionize the future of aviation.

This week, the Digest will take a different approach. 

Instead of dissecting the happenings in our 'Big 5' sectors individually, we're discussing the most impactful outcomes of the FAA Drone Symposium as they apply across the board - be it how it affects private/enterprise businesses, government, non-profit, education, and the independent/hobby sectors.

Also hot on our radar is the fast-approaching deadline for Remote ID. We're here to guide you on what you need to know and the steps to ensure your drone adheres to the new rules.

Stay tuned for more insights, crucial dates, and thorough breakdowns of the Symposium's major reveals. We remain unwavering in our commitment to provide you with the most detailed coverage in the drone landscape.

Let's remember that becoming a master in any field is a journey. The Symposium, rich with knowledge, offers an exceptional opportunity to advance through the skill acquisition stages, from novice to master. Our mission? To equip you with the know-how to become a significant contributor in the drone industry.

Have a question? Just ask us. We’re here to help guide you through new regulations and policy questions. 

In this issue of The Drone Consultant’s Digest, we will cover the 'Big 5':

• GOVERNMENT SECTOR: Paving the 'Highway in the Sky' collaboration between FAA and NASA
• PRIVATE/ENTERPRISE SECTOR: What we can expect to see from the easing of BVLOS regulations
• NON-PROFIT SECTOR: What nonprofits can takeaway from the FAA Drone Symposium
• EDUCATIONAL SECTOR: A Drone Pilot’s quest for federal recognition
• INDEPENDENT/HOBBY SECTOR: Is your drone Remote ID compliant? How to find out, and what you need to know about next month’s deadline

PLUS:

• Global Tenders
• Q3 - Q4 Drone Events
• Free Trainings and Webinars

Thank you for being a part of the Global Air U community! Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, and I thank you in advance for your time and contribution. We are excited to continue serving as a resource to help you expand your drone business.

Cheers,

Eno

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Now, let’s dive in for this week.

Private/Enterprise Sector: Streamlining BVLOS Operations 

The FAA is simplifying drone operations that go Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). They're rolling out "summary grants"—a system to mass-approve similar operations—which speeds up the exemption process significantly. If your drone missions have similar requirements, this could be a major advantage. Also, their use of "templating" is an innovative way to streamline the approval process, offering a hint at possible future BVLOS rules. The FAA is also advancing towards a more automated, scalable, and diverse BVLOS ecosystem, with active tests of unmanned traffic management systems (UTMs). Businesses should note these developments, as they may suggest future drone industry requirements.  Read More Here

Government Sector: Paving the 'Highway in the Sky: UTM System 

The FAA Drone Symposium recently spotlighted the Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) initiative. This initiative is a joint effort between the FAA, NASA, and others to ensure safety in low-altitude drone operations. The UTM, a kind of air traffic control for drones, is still under development. Once finished, it will handle drone operations beyond visual line of sight, particularly in areas outside the reach of traditional FAA air traffic services. This paves the way for smooth interactions between drone operators and the FAA. Notably, an upcoming field test day in Dallas, Texas was announced, which aims to validate industry standards and trial emerging UTM services.  Read More Here

Non-Profit Sector: Untapped Potential: Exploring Drone Applications for Non-Profit Organizations

The drone technology landscape is rapidly evolving, and while non-profit use cases were not explicitly discussed at the Symposium, they remain crucial. Non-profit organizations should continue to proactively learn and apply these technologies, understand the changing regulations, and explore how drones can be incorporated into their operations for increased impact, such as in wildlife conservation, disaster management, or medical supply delivery. It is crucial for them to stay ahead of the curve and utilize these advancements for their mission.

Education Sector Insights: A Drone Pilot’s Quest For Federal Recognition

Wing Cheung, Professor at Palomar College, talked about his team's effort to spearhead the process of recognizing a 'drone pilot' as a standalone occupation under the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). Presenting at the FAA Drone Symposium, Cheung highlighted the current workaround of listing drone programs under 'cybersecurity' or 'camera operations.' His pioneering work aims to secure a distinct SOC code by the next update in 2028. This significant step would enable targeted grant funding for drone education, stimulate the creation of drone-specific programs, and further fuel the growth and formal recognition of the drone industry. Read More Here

Freelance/Independent Sector: Is your drone Remote ID compliant? How to find out

The UAS Remote Identification, often referred to as Remote ID, is a rule mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that requires most drones operating in U.S. airspace to have remote ID capability. The main purpose of Remote ID is to provide information about drones in flight, such as the identity, location, and altitude of the drone and its control station or take-off location.

This rule is essential for safety and security, enabling the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies to locate the control station if a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or in prohibited areas. Remote ID lays the groundwork needed for more complex drone operations in the future. 

There are three ways drone pilots can comply with the Remote ID rule:

1. Standard Remote ID Drones: These drones have built-in Remote ID capability. From takeoff to shutdown, they broadcast information like Drone ID, Drone Location and Altitude, Drone Velocity, Control Station Location and Elevation, Time Mark, and Emergency Status.
2. Drones with a Remote ID Broadcast Module: This is for drones that don't have built-in Remote ID capability but can have a module attached to them that provides this capability. These drones are limited to visual line of sight operations, and they broadcast similar information as the Standard Remote ID Drones, with the exception that instead of the control station's location, they broadcast their take-off location.
3. Drones without Remote ID in FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA): Drones without Remote ID can operate within visual line of sight and within the FRIA without broadcasting any information. Anyone can fly in these areas, but FRIAs can only be requested by community-based organizations and educational institutions.

All these broadcasts are made via radio frequencies, such as Wifi and Bluetooth.

Please note that this rule was submitted to the Federal Register for publication after the FAA reviewed over 53,000 comments during the 60-day comment period following the publication of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on December 31, 2019.

Want to know if your Drone is Remote ID complaint? The FAA has a database you can search. Check here

For more detailed information, Read More Here

Global Tenders

• Country:  Barbaros | Funder: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Scope: Identification and development of a sector-specific curriculum for participatory drone mapping & geospatial analysis training course, development of policy and operations manuals for the BADMC, Barbados | Bid Due Date/Time: 15 August 2023, 23:00 hours (Barbados time) | Find Out More

• Country:  Botswana | Funder: United Nations Development Programme
•  | Scope: SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE(DRONE) FOR DWNP ANTIPOACHING | Bid Due Date/Time: 09-Aug-23 @ 06:00 AM (New York time) Find Out More

• Country:  Mauritius | Funder: Republic of Mauritius, Mauritius Prison Service | Scope: Consultancy Services for Service Provider under the Expert Skills Scheme in Drone Detection Technology | Bid Due Date/Time: 7 August 2023 up to 10.00 hrs (Local Time) Find Out More

• Country: Nigeria | Funder: The World Bank Group | Scope:  GOMBE STATE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST RESOURCES (ACRESAL PROJECT)  Surveying & Navigation Equipment and Drone Equipment| Bid Due Date/Time: 10 Aug 2023 Find Out More

• Country: Jordan | Funder: Government of Jordan | Scope: Supply Of Drones Responsible For Protecting Water Sources | Bid Due Date/Time: 02 Aug 2023 Find Out More

Q3 - Q4 DRONE EVENTS

United States:

Baltimore, MD

FAA Symposium (Baltimore) | 1-2 August (Symposium)  | 2- 3 August AAM Summit | Baltimore Convention Center | Theme:  | Find Out More

Alexandria, VA

Counter-UAS Summit 2023 | 15-16 August | Westin, Old Town Alexandria | Confronting the Threat of UAS from Homeland to the Battlefield Find Out More

Las Vegas, NV

Commercial UAV Expo | 5-7 September | Caesars Forum | Vertical Forus. Global Reach Find Out More

Grand Forks, ND

UAS Summit & Expo: a UAS Magazine Event | 10-11 October | Alerus Center | Join the National STAGE in UAS Commercialization and utilization Find Out More

International:

Indonesia

Indonesia Drone Expo | 10-12 August | Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Indonesia | Drone Solution for Industrial Competitiveness Find Out More

FREE TRAININGS AND WEBINARS

Autel | Aug 4, 2023 12:00PM EDT | EXPLORING FRONTIERS WITH THE COMPLETE AUTEL RANGE Register Here

DroneDeploy | 10 August, 12pm PST | Eliminate rework by leveraging drone data and AI for pre-pour inspections Register Here

DroneDeploy | 10 August, 11am PST | Stay on schedule by leveraging the power of AI in solar farm construction Register Here

Global Air U | 27 July, 12pm EST | How to Become a Drone Consultant Watch the Replay (With Timestamps)

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Thank you for being part of our community. We hope these insights and opportunities have been valuable to you. Until next week, keep your eyes to the skies and your passion ignited.

Cheers,

Eno

P.S.

When you're ready, here are 4 ways I can assist you in amplifying your drone business:

• Join our Global Drone Business Community on Facebook. Connect with like-minded drone business owners from around the globe sharing insights, ideas, and experiences - Click Here

• Transform Your Proposals with Our Ultimate Drone Proposal Template. Take advantage of this tested and proven template to secure more contracts and enhance your proposal efficiency today - Click Here

• Tune in to our Drone Business Masterminds Podcast. Listen to successful drone entrepreneurs from all over the world share their strategies and experiences on how to scale your drone business - Click Here

• One-on-One Business Coaching. If you're keen on working directly with me to tailor specific strategies for your drone business, just reply to this message with "One-on-One" in the subject line. Tell me about your business and what you'd like to work on together, and I'll get back to you with all the necessary details.