is not recovered. Additionally, the reliability of many of the sighting reports is questionable because pilots often have difficulty identifying UAS with clarity, given their small size, distance from the observed location, and the required duties. FAA is in the process pilot’s of improving the reliability of its data on small UAS sightings by standardizing the reporting process and developing an approach to analyzing and classifying the reports based on factors that affect their level of reliability and their potential impact on safety. Even though this has not yet been accomplished, the lack of reliability and accuracy of UAS sighting reports should not dissuade the accident investigation community from ignoring these events. Continuing to collect and investigate sightings may provide harbingers of collision risks with manned aircraft, as explained below. The Value of Investigating Selected Incidents The active monitoring and investigation of reported UAS sightings are fully aligned with the FAA’s continued operational safety mandate to identify conditions that may adversely impact aviation safety. In cases where a UAS sighting can be verified as authentic, gaining an understanding of the reasons why a UAS entered controlled airspace or ended up in hazardous proximity to a aircraft is an important step to preventing a future event from becoming an accident. For those cases, such knowledge is critical to identify gaps in existing countermeasures and/or to reveal scenarios that future countermeasures will need to address to be truly effective. Investigations of sighting reports could also yield useful data for safety risk assessment purposes and may reveal evidence of -- despite the volume of reports -- few UAS having actually been flown into unauthorized airspace. While investigating every sighting is not practical or provide useful findings, the few that do could reveal critical insights to prevent an accident in the future. Methodical examination of UAS sightings would also enhance the understanding of community’s which factors contribute the most significant risks to safety Additionally, established collaborative networks with stakeholders in the aviation and law enforcement communities should be further expanded to address the challenges in conducting useful sighting investigations. For example, FAA has an outreach effort via its Law Enforcement Assistance Program, or In January 2015, the FAA published guidance for the law “LEAP”. enforcement community on its UAS website and is actively engaged with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels. Local law enforcement officials routinely work with local FAA field offices to ensure that reported safety issues are investigated and addressed. (21) Incidents in the Aggregate: What Can They Tell Us ?
is not recovered. Additionally, the reliability of many of the sighting reports is questionable because pilots often have difficulty identifying UAS with clarity, given their small size, distance from the observed location, and the pilot’s required duties. FAA is in the process of improving the reliability of its data on small UAS sightings by standardizing the reporting process and developing an approach to analyzing and classifying the reports based on factors that affect their level of reliability and their potential impact on safety. Even though this has not yet been accomplished, the lack of reliability and accuracy of UAS sighting reports should not dissuade the accident investigation community from ignoring these events. Continuing to collect and investigate sightings may provide harbingers of collision risks with manned aircraft, as explained below. The Value of Investigating Selected Incidents The active monitoring and investigation of reported UAS sightings are fully aligned with the FAA’s continued operational safety mandate to identify conditions that may adversely impact aviation safety. In cases where a UAS sighting can be verified as authentic, gaining an understanding of the reasons why a UAS entered controlled airspace or ended up in hazardous proximity to a aircraft is an important step to preventing a future event from becoming an accident. For those cases, such knowledge is critical to identify gaps in existing countermeasures and/or to reveal scenarios that future countermeasures will need to address to be truly effective. Investigations of sighting reports could also yield useful data for safety risk assessment purposes and may reveal evidence of -- despite the volume of reports -- few UAS having actually been flown into unauthorized airspace. While investigating every sighting is not practical or provide useful findings, the few that do could reveal critical insights to prevent an accident in the future. Methodical examination of UAS sightings would also enhance the community’s understanding of which factors contribute the most significant risks to safety Additionally, established collaborative networks with stakeholders in the aviation and law enforcement communities should be further expanded to address the challenges in conducting useful sighting investigations. For example, FAA has an outreach effort via its Law Enforcement Assistance Program, or “LEAP”. In January 2015, the FAA published guidance for the law enforcement community on its UAS website and is actively engaged with law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels. Local law enforcement officials routinely work with local FAA field offices to ensure that reported safety issues are investigated and addressed. (21) Incidents in the Aggregate: What Can They Tell Us ?
9.%20Why%20it%20Makes%20a%20Difference%20to%20Report%20and%20Investigate%20UAS%20Incidents.docx