DOT inspector general reviews FAA drone waiver process

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently announced it is beginning a review of the approval and oversight processes used to grant waivers to operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“It is important that FAA’s waiver approval process does not result in prolonged delays, especially for operations already considered to be a low safety risk by the agency,” the OIG said.

In June 2016, the FAA published a general rule for small UAS operations, but does not allow for certain potential uses of UAS, such as night and out-of-sight operations, without specifically approved waivers. Since August 2016, the FAA has received more than 1,000 applications, 300 of which have been approved.

“[G]iven the significant safety implications of integrating UAS into the National Airspace System and the increasing number of both requested and approved UAS waivers,” the audit of these processes is necessary, the OIG said.

The review, expected to begin by the end of the month, will focus on the FAA need for a data reporting and tracking system for UAS activity, training levels for aviation safety inspectors and UAS oversight guidance.