Jim Williams, FAA executive manager, answers questions at AMA Expo
On Saturday, January 12, at AMA Expo 2013, Academy members and Expo attendees received an update on the status of the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) rule and progress toward enacting the Special Rule for Model Aircraft established as part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act (passed by Congress in February 2012).
About Jim Williams
Jim Williams is the executive manager of the newly established FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, previously named the Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO). Before taking the helm of the UAS Integration Office in March 2012, he was the director of engineering services in the FAA Next Generation (NextGen) Organization.
Throughout his lengthy career with the FAA, Jim has held many responsibilities, including:
- Leading the organization tasked with lifecycle management of all FAA communications systems.
- Leading the implementation of the Safety Management System in the Technical Operations Service Unit.
- Working with the FAA Command Center to transition personnel into the Air Traffic Organization.
- Leading the team that developed, procured, and installed all air/ground communications services for the FAA.
- Leading the team that designed, procured, and fielded the FAA’s prototype Air/Ground DataLink Communications System.
A native of Tennessee, Jim is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. He currently lives in Reston, Virginia, with his wife and son.
Forum attendees
This year’s AMA/FAA forum was attended by James Sizemore, UAS Integration Office Airworthiness and System Engineering Lead, and by Jim Williams (via teleconference).
Forum summary
During the AMA/FAA forum, Jim briefed attendees on the provisions of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (PL 112-95, Sec. 336) and explained the UAS Integration Office’s approach to enacting the model aviation provision. AMA President Bob Brown queried him on a number of issues relating to model aircraft and UAS integration. Members of the audience were given the opportunity to submit questions directly to Jim.
Although little new information was provided, it was gratifying to note that the FAA and the AMA appear to be in accord regarding their understanding of the model aviation provision and are aligned on the process for moving forward to enact the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. The AMA expresses sincere appreciation to Jim Williams and James Sizemore for providing the aeromodeling community an opportunity to better understand the complexities of this important subject.
Detailed information regarding the forum discussion and the question-and-answer session can be found on the AMA website: www.modelaircraft.org.
Outcomes and expectations
The outcome of the forum discussion is encouraging and viewed as a positive step. Although it will take time to fully develop the path forward—and even longer for final review and executive approval—the hope is to complete this process before the final sUAS rule is published.
More importantly, this effort is expected to create a long-term platform for maintaining safe aeromodeling operations within the national airspace and for assuring the vitality and future of model aviation.
What comes next / Call to action
The enactment of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft does not mean certain aspects of the sUAS rule won’t have an impact on the aeromodeling community. Publication of the sUAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and call for public comment is projected for the summer of 2013.
Please ensure that everyone you know is aware of the impending regulation. It’s important that those who share our love for this hobby are well informed and participate in the response to the proposed sUAS rule when the NPRM is published.
Timely updates regarding the sUAS rulemaking can also be found on Facebook by “liking” AMAGov and on Twitter at Twitter.com/AMAGov.
—Rich Hanson, Government and Regulatory Affairs
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
