FAA Grounds USF Plan To Educate Students With UAV's

FAA Grounds University Plan To Educate Students With Drones

Denying an educational institution the right to teach students how to safely operate an increasingly popular consumer device is a mind bogglingly absurd (yet unsurprising) FAA decision.   The decision highlights just how poorly the FAA has handled the integration of drones into the national airspace.  As thousands of consumers and hobbyists purchase drones (which may be lawfully operated for hobbyist purposes) many of these new operators fly without any training or education.  In the midst of this increase in operations, the FAA is enforcing draconian rules that make safety and training courses unlawful — merely because they charge a fee.

Thus, while the FAA claims that safety is their mandate, they have prohibited educational institutions and other individuals from training people on how to fly safely — unless those people want to do so for free or with unrealistic workarounds like tethers.  Does this make any sense?

LIBRARY DRONE PLAN HITS TURBULENCE | Article - Fri 29 Aug 2014 06:11:06 AM UTC | airsoc.com, reach for the sky.

Library officials had expected USF to be eligible for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorizations (COA) to do research using their Phantom I and Phantom II drones, but last month General Counsel for the FAA issued a legal interpretation that education is not a government function under COA guidelines.
“If the FAA now were to read a concept as broad as education into the statute, it could exponentially expand the operation of unregulated aircraft,” FAA Assistant Chief Counselor Mark Bury said in a memo dated July 3.

USF Oracle
Library drone plan hits turbulence | The Oracle

What should have been a smooth takeoff for the Library’s drone lending program this week has been grounded indefinitely due to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. 
Library officials had expected USF to be eligible for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorizations (COA) to do research using their Phantom I and Phantom II drones, but last month General Counsel for the FAA issued a legal interpretation that education is not a government function under COA guidelines. 

Higher learning: Library to lend out drones | The Oracle

USF library to offer more than just books. Cue the drones! | USA TODAY College