[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 244 (Thursday, December 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65390-65391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27507]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Drone Advisory 
Committee (DAC)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for appointment to the DAC.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice to solicit nominations for 
qualified candidates to serve on the DAC. This notice seeks to fill 
vacancies on the DAC and does not affect the status of current DAC 
members. The DAC is an advisory committee established under DOT's 
authority, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (FACA) as amended. The objective of the DAC is to provide 
independent advice and recommendations to the FAA and to respond to 
specific taskings received directly from the FAA. The advice, 
recommendations, and taskings relate to improving the efficiency and 
safety of integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National 
Airspace System. In response to FAA requests, the DAC may provide the 
FAA with information that may be used for tactical and strategic 
planning purposes.

DATES: Nomination materials to submit (see below) must be received no 
later than 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time on January 9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: All nominations shall be emailed to Chris Harm, the FAA's 
UAS Stakeholder and Committee Liaison, at [email protected] (subject 
line ``2019 DAC Nomination''). A return email confirmation will be sent 
upon receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this process or 
general questions about the DAC, please visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/dac/ or contact Chris Harm at [email protected] 
or 202-267-5401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the FACA (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 
U.S.C., App. 2), notice is hereby given of the solicitation of 
nominations for appointment to the DAC.
    Description of Duties: The DAC acts solely in an advisory capacity 
and does not exercise program management responsibilities. Decisions 
directly affecting implementation of transportation policy will remain 
with the FAA Administrator and the Secretary of Transportation. The 
DAC:
    a. Undertakes only tasks assigned by the FAA.
    b. Deliberates on and approves recommendations for assigned tasks 
in meetings that are open to the public.
    c. Responds to ad hoc informational requests from the FAA and/or 
provides input to the FAA on the overall DAC structure (including 
structure of the subcommittees and or task groups).
    Members of the DAC will be engaged in the above-referenced 
activities.
    Membership: The FAA will submit recommendations for membership to 
the Secretary of Transportation, who will appoint members to the DAC. 
The membership is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the functions performed. All DAC members serve at the 
pleasure of the Secretary of

[[Page 65391]]

Transportation. Other membership criteria include:
    a. The DAC will have no more than 35 members.
    b. Members will serve for an appointment of up to two years.
    c. Members will serve without charge and without government 
compensation. The employing organization bears all costs related to its 
participation. Members must represent a particular interest of 
employment, education, experience, or affiliation with a specific 
aviation related organization.
    d. Members must attend all DAC meetings (estimated three meetings 
per year).
    Qualifications: Candidates must be in good public standing and 
currently serve as a member of their organization's core senior 
leadership team with the ability to make UAS-related decisions. In rare 
circumstances, membership will be granted to uniquely qualified 
individuals who do not meet this latter requirement.
    Materials to Submit: Candidates are required to submit, in full, 
the following materials to be considered for DAC membership. Failure to 
submit the required information may disqualify a candidate from the 
review process.
    a. A short biography of nominee, including professional and 
academic credentials.
    b. A r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae, which must include 
relevant job experience, qualifications, as well as contact 
information.
    c. Up to three letters of recommendation may be submitted, but are 
not required. Each letter may be no longer than one page.
    d. A one-page statement describing how the candidate will benefit 
the DAC, taking into account current membership and the candidate's 
unique perspective that will advance the conversation. This statement 
must also identify a primary and secondary interest to which the 
candidate's expertise best aligns. The stakeholder groups represented 
on the DAC include the following:

i. Airports and Airport Communities
ii. Labor (controllers, pilots)
iii. Local Government
iv. Navigation, Communication, Surveillance, and Air Traffic Management 
Capability Providers
v. Research, Development, and Academia
vi. Traditional Manned Aviation Operators
vii. UAS Hardware Component Manufacturers
viii. UAS Manufacturers
ix. UAS Operators
x. UAS Software Application Manufacturers
xi. Other

    Finally, candidates should state their previous experience on a 
Federal Advisory Committee and/or Aviation Rulemaking Committee (if 
any), their level of knowledge in their above stakeholder groups, and 
the size of their constituency they represent or are able to reach.
    Evaluations will be based on the materials submitted by the 
prospective candidates and will include consideration for membership 
balancing to ensure each of the above stakeholder groups has adequate 
representation.

    Issued in Washington, DC on December 14, 2018.
Christopher W. Harm,
UAS Stakeholder and Committee Liaison, AUS-10, UAS Integration Office, 
FAA.
[FR Doc. 2018-27507 Filed 12-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P