Recommended Reading
Overview of new UAS regulations
Federal Register on new UAS rules
FAA fact sheet on new UAS rules
FAA page on new UAS regulations
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Who's Behind The Blog
Gary Clites, M.J.E.
Contact me at: gclites@comcast.net
May 18, 2015
The comment period for input to the FAA regarding the inclusion of educational use of micro UAVs in new drone regulations closed on April 24. In total, 4,550 comments were received. While those involved in the model aviation community filed the majority of comments, th...
May 18, 2015
I am writing regarding docket number FAA-2015-0150, the proposed regulations on the operation and certification of small unmanned drones. I have taught journalism in a public high school in Maryland for 27 years. I am president of the MarylandDC Scholastic Press Associ...
March 3, 2015
By Gary Clites
To be published in the Spring 2015 issue of the Dow Jones News Fund's Adviser Update
The use of drones to gather images and video has been a hot topic in scholastic journalism in recent years. As the cost of drones and digital cameras fell to...
March 3, 2015
The FAA comment period on the new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) rules runs from February 23, 2015 to April 23, 2015. The proposed rules for UAS cover drones as large as 55 pounds and would disqualify most high school students from operating even small drones (Operat...
February 25, 2015
Excerpted from: Docket No.: FAA-2015-0150; Notice No. 15-01] RIN 2120–AJ60 Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
1. Micro UAS Classification
In ad...
February 25, 2015
by Gary Clites
Originally published in the Winter 2014 issue of the Dow Jones News Fund's Adviser Update
In October of 2013, Linda Shockley, deputy director of the News Fund, suggested that I do a column on drone use by high school journalists. At the time,...
May 18, 2015
May 18, 2015
March 3, 2015
March 3, 2015
February 25, 2015
February 25, 2015
What's this all about?
• The FAA has proposed new rules for the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that would preclude most educational uses of drones on high school campuses.
• They might include separate rules for micro UAS systems under 4.5 pounds that could be more flexible. The FAA is asking for public comment on the potential rules.
What can you do?
• Teachers and students need to make their voices heard in this process. It is crucial that you contact the FAA today to support the educational use of small drones.
• Help spread the word to other educators and students via e-mail, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.