[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