Policy Statement for the Reported Geometric Altitude of the Control Station of a Standard Remote Identification Unmanned Aircraft, 66162-66163 [2021-25366]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 222 / Monday, November 22, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
any missing cadmium plating and apply a
chromate conversion coating.
(2) Within 50 hours TIS after completion
of paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, and thereafter
at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS:
(i) Using a 10X magnifying glass, visually
inspect the neck and threaded area of each
M/R clevis for wear, corrosion, and damage,
which for the purposes of this inspection
may be indicated by distortion, bending, a
crack, or damaged M/R clevis threads. Refer
to Figure 3 of ASB 430–21–60 for a depiction
of the area to inspect on each M/R clevis. If
there is any wear, corrosion, or damage,
before further flight, remove the affected M/
R clevis from service and replace with an
airworthy part.
(ii) Perform the actions required in
paragraph (g)(1)(iv) of this AD for each M/R
clevis.
(3) Within 150 hours TIS after the
completion of paragraph (g)(1) of this AD,
and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150
hours TIS, visually inspect and purge grease
each universal bearing, by performing the
actions as required in paragraphs (g)(1)(ii)
and (iii) of this AD.
(h) Special Flight Permits
A special flight permit may be permitted
provided that there are no passengers
onboard.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES1
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD,
contact Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer,
Operational Safety Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 L’Enfant
Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 20024;
telephone (202) 267–9167; email hal.jensen@
faa.gov.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in
Transport Canada CF–2021–26 AD, dated
July 26, 2021. You may view the Transport
Canada AD at https://www.regulations.gov in
Docket No. FAA–2021–1011.
(k) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference of
the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) You must use this service information
as applicable to do the actions required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
17:19 Nov 19, 2021
Jkt 256001
Issued on November 16, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations,
Compliance & Airworthiness Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–25489 Filed 11–18–21; 11:15 am]
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation
Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In
accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your
request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as
appropriate. If sending information directly
to the manager of the International Validation
Branch, send it to the attention of the person
identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD.
Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC,
notify your appropriate principal inspector,
or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/
certificate holding district office.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
(i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin 430–21–60,
dated July 13, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Bell Textron Canada
Limited, 12,800 Rue de l’Avenir, Mirabel,
Quebec J7J 1R4, Canada; telephone 1–450–
437–2862 or 1–800–363–8023; fax 1–450–
433–0272; email productsupport@
bellflight.com; or at https://
www.bellflight.com/support/contact-support.
(4) You may view this service information
at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy.,
Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110.
(5) You may view this service information
that is incorporated by reference at the
National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on
the availability of this material at NARA,
email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to:
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/
ibr-locations.html.
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 89
[Docket No.: FAA–2019–1100]
Policy Statement for the Reported
Geometric Altitude of the Control
Station of a Standard Remote
Identification Unmanned Aircraft
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Statement of policy.
AGENCY:
This action clarifies FAA
policy regarding the existing accuracy
requirements for the reported geometric
altitude of the control station of a
standard remote identification
unmanned aircraft. The FAA describes
one acceptable way producers of
unmanned aircraft can meet the
minimum performance requirement for
the accuracy of the control station’s
reported geometric altitude. The FAA
determined that this action is necessary
to inform developers of means of
compliance of one potential pathway to
meet the performance requirement for
the control station’s reported geometric
altitude.
DATES: The effective date of this policy
is November 22, 2021.
SUMMARY:
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For information on where to
obtain copies of this statement of policy
and other information related to this
statement, see ‘‘Additional Information’’
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
Siegmund, Policy and Innovation
Division, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Ave.
SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone
1–844–FLY–MY–UA (1–844–359–6981);
email: UAShelp@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
I. Overview
A. Background
On January 15, 2021, the FAA
published a final rule titled ‘‘Remote
Identification of Unmanned Aircraft’’
(Remote ID final rule) with an original
effective date of March 16, 2021.1 2 The
Remote ID final rule requires the remote
identification of unmanned aircraft in
the airspace of the United States.
Remote identification is the capability
of an unmanned aircraft, in flight, to
provide certain identification, location,
and performance information that
people on the ground and other airspace
users can receive.
In addition to the operating
requirements, the Remote ID final rule
provides the design and production
requirements for the production of
remote identification unmanned aircraft
or broadcast modules. These
requirements describe the performance
standards for remote identification
without establishing a specific means or
process for regulated entities to follow.3
A person designing or producing a
standard remote identification
unmanned aircraft or remote
identification broadcast module must
show that the unmanned aircraft or
broadcast module meets the
performance requirements of the rule by
following an FAA-accepted means of
compliance. A means of compliance
submitted to the FAA for acceptance
1 Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft
final rule, 86 FR 4390 (Jan. 15, 2021).
2 On March 10, 2021, the FAA published a
correction to the Remote ID final rule in accordance
with the memorandum titled Regulatory Freeze
Pending Review (86 FR 7424, Jan 28, 2021),
delaying the final rule’s effective date to April 21,
2021 (86 FR 13629).
3 A standard remote identification unmanned
aircraft broadcasts identification, location, and
performance information of the unmanned aircraft
and control station. This unmanned aircraft
broadcasts the remote identification message
elements directly from the unmanned aircraft from
takeoff to shutdown. A remote identification
broadcast module broadcasts identification,
location, and take-off information; the broadcast
module may be a separate device that is attached
to an unmanned aircraft, or a feature built into the
aircraft. 86 FR 4391 (Jan. 15, 2021).
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22NOR1
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 222 / Monday, November 22, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
must show that an unmanned aircraft or
broadcast module produced using it
would meet the performance
requirements of title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations part 89 (14 CFR part
89). This policy statement only
addresses the performance requirements
and compliance path for the standard
remote identification unmanned
aircraft.
Part 89 requires the following 8
message elements to be broadcast from
a standard remote identification
unmanned aircraft: (1) Unmanned
aircraft unique identifier; (2) an
indication of the control station’s
latitude and longitude; (3) an indication
of the control station’s altitude; (4) an
indication of the unmanned aircraft’s
latitude and longitude; (5) an indication
of the unmanned aircraft’s altitude; (6)
a time mark; (7) an indication of the
emergency status of the unmanned
aircraft system; and (8) velocity.
Additionally, all standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft must
meet certain minimum requirements
regarding the transmission of the
message elements including the
minimum performance requirements
related to positional accuracy, geometric
altitude accuracy, message latency, and
message transmission rate. These
minimum performance requirements for
the message elements are design
requirements; any specific test method
for ensuring that the unmanned aircraft
design meets this accuracy requirement
will be reviewed and evaluated by the
FAA as a part of the means of
compliance acceptance process.
Part 89 establishes the accuracy
requirement for the reported geometric
altitude for the control station of a
standard remote identification
unmanned aircraft. Specifically,
§ 89.310(h)(2) requires that the reported
geometric altitude of the control station
must be accurate to within 15 feet of the
true geometric altitude, with 95 percent
probability. The Remote ID final rule
did not specify how a means of
compliance should address this
requirement. In order to guide
producers to develop standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft that
meet the FAA’s standards, this policy
statement informs developers of one
potential means of compliance that
would be acceptable to the FAA to
demonstrate compliance with meeting
the geometric altitude requirement.
Persons developing a means of
compliance for a standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft in
accordance with 14 CFR part 89, subpart
E, may incorporate the method
described in this policy statement as
part of their means of compliance. The
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:19 Nov 19, 2021
Jkt 256001
FAA emphasizes, however, that other
ways of demonstrating compliance with
§ 89.310(h)(2) may be acceptable.
B. Statement of Policy: Acceptable
Method
This statement of policy describes one
acceptable way, but not the only way,
that the accuracy requirements for the
reported geometric altitude of the
control station of a standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft can
meet the minimum performance
requirement in § 89.310(h)(2). The FAA
is not requiring developers of means of
compliance to include the specific
method provided in this statement of
policy.
A means of compliance that requires
the unmanned aircraft system (UAS)
control station position source to be a
global navigation satellite system
(GNSS) receiver utilizing Global
Positioning System (GPS) and Wide
Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
satellite signals to determine the
geometric altitude of the control station
would be an acceptable method for a
means of compliance to demonstrate
that the unmanned aircraft built
according to its specifications would
meet the accuracy requirement in
§ 89.310(h)(2). The WAAS Performance
Analysis report from the second quarter
of 2021 shows that GNSS receivers
utilizing GPS with a satellite-based
augmentation system indicates a worstsite 95% vertical accuracy of 5 feet for
the continental United States.4 This
report demonstrates that GNSS receivers
utilizing GPS/WAAS can achieve the
necessary vertical position accuracy
across the National Airspace System to
meet the reported geometric altitude
requirement of § 89.310(h)(2).
The FAA recognizes that UAS
technology, which includes remote
identification technology, is continually
evolving and improving. Accordingly,
the FAA expects that other methods
may be available to meet this
requirement other than the one
mentioned in this policy statement, and
nothing about this statement should
preclude developers of means of
compliance from including other
technological methods of meeting the
vertical accuracy requirements for the
reported geometric altitude of the
control station. This statement of policy
solely addresses one method of
demonstrating compliance with
§ 89.310(h)(2); note that any means of
compliance submitted to the FAA must
also adequately address the other
requirements in part 89, subparts D and
E, in order to be accepted by the FAA.
II. Additional Information
A. Electronic Access and Filing
A copy of the Remote ID final rule as
well as all background materials may be
viewed online at https://
www.regulations.gov using the docket
number listed above. A copy of this
statement of policy will also be placed
in the docket for that rule. Electronic
retrieval help and guidelines are
available on the website. It is available
24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
An electronic copy of this document
may also be downloaded from the Office
of the Federal Register’s website at
https://www.FederalRegister.gov and the
Government Publishing Office’s website
at https://www.GovInfo.gov.
Copies may also be obtained by
sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Office of
Rulemaking, ARM–1, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or
by calling (202) 267–9677. Requestors
must identify the docket or amendment
number of this rulemaking.
B. Integration of This Policy Into FAA
Orders and Publications
As appropriate, the FAA will
incorporate this policy into applicable
FAA Orders and publications, such as
Advisory Circulars, as they are updated.
The agency will also continually review
this policy in the interest of aviation
safety. The FAA reserves the right to
update this policy if the agency collects
or receives additional information.
This policy does not have the force
and effect of law and is not meant to
bind the public in any way, it is
intended only to provide clarity to the
public regarding existing requirements
under the law or agency policies.
Issued in Washington, DC, on or about
November 16, 2021.
Michael C. Romanowski,
Aviation Safety Director, Policy and
Innovation, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021–25366 Filed 11–19–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
4 https://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/
DisplayArchive.htm.
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66163
E:\FR\FM\22NOR1.SGM
22NOR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 222 (Monday, November 22, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66162-66163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25366]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 89
[Docket No.: FAA-2019-1100]
Policy Statement for the Reported Geometric Altitude of the
Control Station of a Standard Remote Identification Unmanned Aircraft
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Statement of policy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This action clarifies FAA policy regarding the existing
accuracy requirements for the reported geometric altitude of the
control station of a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft.
The FAA describes one acceptable way producers of unmanned aircraft can
meet the minimum performance requirement for the accuracy of the
control station's reported geometric altitude. The FAA determined that
this action is necessary to inform developers of means of compliance of
one potential pathway to meet the performance requirement for the
control station's reported geometric altitude.
DATES: The effective date of this policy is November 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: For information on where to obtain copies of this statement
of policy and other information related to this statement, see
``Additional Information'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Siegmund, Policy and Innovation
Division, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20591; telephone 1-844-FLY-MY-UA (1-844-359-6981);
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Overview
A. Background
On January 15, 2021, the FAA published a final rule titled ``Remote
Identification of Unmanned Aircraft'' (Remote ID final rule) with an
original effective date of March 16, 2021.\1\ \2\ The Remote ID final
rule requires the remote identification of unmanned aircraft in the
airspace of the United States. Remote identification is the capability
of an unmanned aircraft, in flight, to provide certain identification,
location, and performance information that people on the ground and
other airspace users can receive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft final rule, 86 FR
4390 (Jan. 15, 2021).
\2\ On March 10, 2021, the FAA published a correction to the
Remote ID final rule in accordance with the memorandum titled
Regulatory Freeze Pending Review (86 FR 7424, Jan 28, 2021),
delaying the final rule's effective date to April 21, 2021 (86 FR
13629).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to the operating requirements, the Remote ID final rule
provides the design and production requirements for the production of
remote identification unmanned aircraft or broadcast modules. These
requirements describe the performance standards for remote
identification without establishing a specific means or process for
regulated entities to follow.\3\ A person designing or producing a
standard remote identification unmanned aircraft or remote
identification broadcast module must show that the unmanned aircraft or
broadcast module meets the performance requirements of the rule by
following an FAA-accepted means of compliance. A means of compliance
submitted to the FAA for acceptance
[[Page 66163]]
must show that an unmanned aircraft or broadcast module produced using
it would meet the performance requirements of title 14 of the Code of
Federal Regulations part 89 (14 CFR part 89). This policy statement
only addresses the performance requirements and compliance path for the
standard remote identification unmanned aircraft.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ A standard remote identification unmanned aircraft
broadcasts identification, location, and performance information of
the unmanned aircraft and control station. This unmanned aircraft
broadcasts the remote identification message elements directly from
the unmanned aircraft from takeoff to shutdown. A remote
identification broadcast module broadcasts identification, location,
and take-off information; the broadcast module may be a separate
device that is attached to an unmanned aircraft, or a feature built
into the aircraft. 86 FR 4391 (Jan. 15, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part 89 requires the following 8 message elements to be broadcast
from a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft: (1) Unmanned
aircraft unique identifier; (2) an indication of the control station's
latitude and longitude; (3) an indication of the control station's
altitude; (4) an indication of the unmanned aircraft's latitude and
longitude; (5) an indication of the unmanned aircraft's altitude; (6) a
time mark; (7) an indication of the emergency status of the unmanned
aircraft system; and (8) velocity. Additionally, all standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft must meet certain minimum requirements
regarding the transmission of the message elements including the
minimum performance requirements related to positional accuracy,
geometric altitude accuracy, message latency, and message transmission
rate. These minimum performance requirements for the message elements
are design requirements; any specific test method for ensuring that the
unmanned aircraft design meets this accuracy requirement will be
reviewed and evaluated by the FAA as a part of the means of compliance
acceptance process.
Part 89 establishes the accuracy requirement for the reported
geometric altitude for the control station of a standard remote
identification unmanned aircraft. Specifically, Sec. 89.310(h)(2)
requires that the reported geometric altitude of the control station
must be accurate to within 15 feet of the true geometric altitude, with
95 percent probability. The Remote ID final rule did not specify how a
means of compliance should address this requirement. In order to guide
producers to develop standard remote identification unmanned aircraft
that meet the FAA's standards, this policy statement informs developers
of one potential means of compliance that would be acceptable to the
FAA to demonstrate compliance with meeting the geometric altitude
requirement. Persons developing a means of compliance for a standard
remote identification unmanned aircraft in accordance with 14 CFR part
89, subpart E, may incorporate the method described in this policy
statement as part of their means of compliance. The FAA emphasizes,
however, that other ways of demonstrating compliance with Sec.
89.310(h)(2) may be acceptable.
B. Statement of Policy: Acceptable Method
This statement of policy describes one acceptable way, but not the
only way, that the accuracy requirements for the reported geometric
altitude of the control station of a standard remote identification
unmanned aircraft can meet the minimum performance requirement in Sec.
89.310(h)(2). The FAA is not requiring developers of means of
compliance to include the specific method provided in this statement of
policy.
A means of compliance that requires the unmanned aircraft system
(UAS) control station position source to be a global navigation
satellite system (GNSS) receiver utilizing Global Positioning System
(GPS) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) satellite signals to
determine the geometric altitude of the control station would be an
acceptable method for a means of compliance to demonstrate that the
unmanned aircraft built according to its specifications would meet the
accuracy requirement in Sec. 89.310(h)(2). The WAAS Performance
Analysis report from the second quarter of 2021 shows that GNSS
receivers utilizing GPS with a satellite-based augmentation system
indicates a worst-site 95% vertical accuracy of 5 feet for the
continental United States.\4\ This report demonstrates that GNSS
receivers utilizing GPS/WAAS can achieve the necessary vertical
position accuracy across the National Airspace System to meet the
reported geometric altitude requirement of Sec. 89.310(h)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ https://www.nstb.tc.faa.gov/DisplayArchive.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The FAA recognizes that UAS technology, which includes remote
identification technology, is continually evolving and improving.
Accordingly, the FAA expects that other methods may be available to
meet this requirement other than the one mentioned in this policy
statement, and nothing about this statement should preclude developers
of means of compliance from including other technological methods of
meeting the vertical accuracy requirements for the reported geometric
altitude of the control station. This statement of policy solely
addresses one method of demonstrating compliance with Sec.
89.310(h)(2); note that any means of compliance submitted to the FAA
must also adequately address the other requirements in part 89,
subparts D and E, in order to be accepted by the FAA.
II. Additional Information
A. Electronic Access and Filing
A copy of the Remote ID final rule as well as all background
materials may be viewed online at https://www.regulations.gov using the
docket number listed above. A copy of this statement of policy will
also be placed in the docket for that rule. Electronic retrieval help
and guidelines are available on the website. It is available 24 hours
each day, 365 days each year. An electronic copy of this document may
also be downloaded from the Office of the Federal Register's website at
https://www.FederalRegister.gov and the Government Publishing Office's
website at https://www.GovInfo.gov.
Copies may also be obtained by sending a request to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Office of Rulemaking, ARM-1, 800 Independence
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591, or by calling (202) 267-9677.
Requestors must identify the docket or amendment number of this
rulemaking.
B. Integration of This Policy Into FAA Orders and Publications
As appropriate, the FAA will incorporate this policy into
applicable FAA Orders and publications, such as Advisory Circulars, as
they are updated. The agency will also continually review this policy
in the interest of aviation safety. The FAA reserves the right to
update this policy if the agency collects or receives additional
information.
This policy does not have the force and effect of law and is not
meant to bind the public in any way, it is intended only to provide
clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or
agency policies.
Issued in Washington, DC, on or about November 16, 2021.
Michael C. Romanowski,
Aviation Safety Director, Policy and Innovation, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25366 Filed 11-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
