Aviation International News reports that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) “met with FAA safety inspectors and law enforcement officials in 11 of the aviation agency’s districts to determine how they investigate potentially unsafe small (under 55 pounds) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).” A report by the GAO incorporated this issue in its recommendations that the FAA improve communication and data in the agency’s approach to compliance and enforcement for UAS. In the report, the GAO “recommends that the FAA develop a better approach to communicate to local law enforcement agencies its expectations for their role in UAS investigations and identify data needed to evaluate FAA’s small UAS compliance and enforcement activities.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Tag: FCC
FCC Passes New Satellite Deorbiting Rule
CNN reports the Federal Communications Commission passed a new rule which forces unused satellites to be deorbited after five years of their mission ending. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Twenty-five years is a long time. There is no reason to wait that long anymore, especially in low-Earth orbit.” Rosenworcel said over half of the satellites sent into orbit are now considered space junk. A released FCC document from earlier in September said, “At risk is more than the $279 billion-a-year satellite and launch industries and the jobs that depend on them. Left unchecked, orbital debris could block all of these benefits and reduce opportunities across nearly every sector of our economy.”
Full Story (CNN)
FCC Approves Starlink for Moving Vehicles
Aviation International News reports that the Federal Communications Commission “has approved SpaceX’s application to provide satellite communications for vehicles while in motion.” The approval “paves the way for SpaceX to offer Ku-band airborne satcom using its Starlink satellite network.” Public charter provider JSX “is the first customer for airborne Starlink and it expects to begin offering the service later this year.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)