Impact of FAA Rules on sUAS Business - Drone Analyst
1. IMPACT OF FAA
RULES
ON SMALL UAS
BUSINESS
Survey Research
Results
Economic impact of
FAA rules on small
unmanned aerial
systems (sUAS)
operations from the
business
perspective
For sUSB Expo
May 8, 2014
Prepared by:
Colin Snow
2. 2|
About this study
This study details the existing state of
sUAS operators, identifies business
sentiment and micro-economic
issues,
and assesses their importance for
future FAA regulations
297qualifiedrespondents 90%fromtheU.S.
59%
35%
6%
Owners & employees
Experts
Other
59% fromdronebusinesses
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
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Survey Results:
Business Impact
Market development
FavorableRegulations
Market disintegration
UnfavorableRegulations
CurrentPolicies
Market
uncertainty
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4. 4|
Key Insights
Understanding of
current FAA rules
varies widely
Responses to each of the individual questions are
analyzed in the Detailed Findings, which are
contained in the Complete Research Report.
Companies operate
anyway
Aerial photography
and cinema
dominate service
offerings
Few operators
employ commercial
liability insurance
Favorable rules will
create economic
growth
insight insight insight
insight insight
Unfavorable rules
will kill the market
ONE TWO THREE
FOUR FIVE SIX
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
5. 5|
Under current
policies..
This has led to a shadow economy
and has many companies on the
sidelines.
Source: Drone Analyst
71%
47%
30%
say the FAA
does not regulateClass
G air space.
..there is market uncertainly.
of companies operate
anyway
and most have bee doing
so for two or more years.
say rules are unclear
and half say ‘very’
unclear.
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
6. 6|
Under favorable
rules..
Almost all businesses that are on the
sidelines would start operation
immediately and begin hiring.
Source: Drone Analyst
65%
49%
42%
would hire
two or more
employees.
..there is economic growth.
projected three year CAGR
with the largest growth for
businesses who make
under $1 million.
would start a business
immediately.
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7. 7|
Favorable rules..
8%
8%
10%
10%
13%
14%
22%
29%
36%
40%
53%
68%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
FAR Part 21.25 Restricted Category certificate
Commercial pilot license
None
Private pilot license
Class 2 medical certificate
Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA)
Private pilot ground school
Maintenance records for my aircraft
Serial number traceability for the aircraft and critical…
Aircraft-specific operational proficiency test
Self-declaration: intent, aircraft, general location, and use
Agreement to operational guidelines for self-regulation
..if morethan 50%
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
8. 8|
Under unfavorable
rules businesses
would..
61%
39%
Kill plans Not kill plans
We conclude the overall
market for sUAS would
basically die if unfavorable
regulations come into being.
All the positive economic
impacts like revenue, job
creation, and tax base
creation would not be
realized.
Source: Drone Analyst
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
9. 9|
Unfavorable rules..
7%
11%
12%
22%
24%
27%
42%
51%
54%
57%
65%
74%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Agreement to operational guidelines for self-regulation
Self-declaration of intent, aircraft, general location, and…
None / Does not apply
Serial number traceability for the aircraft and critical…
Aircraft-specific operational proficiency test
Maintenance records for my aircraft
Private pilot ground school
Class 2 medical certificate
A Part 21.25 Restricted Category certificate
A Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA)
Private pilot license
Commercial pilot license
..if morethan 50%
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
10. 10|
Recommendations
to FAA
1. Acknowledge that the
current regulatory void has
left businesses either
sitting on the sidelines or
operating in the absence of
appropriate safety
guidelines.
2. Concede that the
recreational community
has proven that
community-based safety
programming is effective in
managing a growing level
of activity.
3. Grant the April 9, 2014,
request by the AUVSI and
AMA and the 31 other
organizations to expedite
the rulemaking process for
UAS operations in the U.S.
airspace and allow the
limited use of small UAS
for commercial purposes
before the final rulemaking
is completed.
4. Make good on the
February 6, 2007, Policy
Statement advisory pledge
here to:
".. [create] a different category of
unmanned vehicles that may be
defined by the operator’s visual
line of sight and are also small
and slow enough to adequately
mitigate hazards to other aircraft
and persons on the ground."
5. Abide by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act and balance
the safety goals of
regulations with the needs
and capabilities of small
businesses and other small
entities providing sUAS
services
Copyright 2014 – Drone Analyst | Not for Distribution
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Recommendations
to manufacturers
and operators
1. Educate yourself. As
this study shows, too many
business owners and
operators do not
understand current rules or
advisories. See my website
for links to the most
relevant ones.
2. Regulate yourself. Start
by adopting standards for
your aircraft and users. A
good place to start is with
the seven standards
released by ASTM
International Committee
F38 on Unmanned Aircraft
Systems.
3. Collaborate. Form a
working relationship with
the organizations that have
already put in place
operational guidelines such
as AMA, RCAPA, and
PARCAP.
4. Find your public voice.
Actively examine and then
voice your opinion when an
FAA notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) about
UAS is made public.
Also, don't assume that
AUVSI is speaking on your
behalf and in your favor
even though it may seem
so.
5. Buy insurance. There
are aviation insurance
contracts which have no
Federal Aviation
Regulation (FAR)
exclusions.
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Research Reports
More data and analysis are available:
Summary Report
$95
Complete Report
$1,995 - Print Copy
$1,995 - Single User PDF
$2,995 - Site License PDF
$3,995 - Enterprise License PDF
http://droneanalyst.com/purchase-research/
9detailedfindings
15data charts
You canpurchase a
report tomatch
your business
needs
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Service providers
13%
2%
2%
2%
3%
3%
4%
5%
5%
5%
8%
11%
36%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
All Others
Construction
Scientific Research
Utilities
First Responder Service (Police, Fire, or Medical)
Data Aggregation or Analytic Services
Consulting
Cinematography / Movie / TV
Education and Training
Mapping / Topography / Geospacial / Photogrammetry
Agriculture / Farming Services
Sales of sUAS aircraft and/or technology
Aerial Photography and/or Video
41%combined
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