Is RPAS growth really exponential?

It is said that, facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable. I fully expect my colleague Patrick Egan's article on the number of people taking their Part 107 recurrence test to be taken apart by many.

I am going to chip in with some beliefs.

More money is being made with sUAS than ever before.

More people can thank sUAS for saving their lives.

More people in power are being held to account by data created by sUAS.

We are entering a time when drone operations are moving in house, big companies have seen the advantage and have a GIS department so just give that team a drone of their own.

Big corp does not want to see their data walk out the door and be handled by third parties.

Smaller companies run by surveyors and inspectors are also able to produce data that has legal standing for the customer.

You can create, a map with an app but does that really have any value if your lack of qualifications mean it won't stand up in a court of law?

sUAS and qualified people are working hard and creating actionable data.

Folks falling by the wayside with at least 7306 of the first group still going shows me that they have found a way to make money with RPAS that is excellent news.

I wonder if manned aviation made such progress in the 1920's.

I don't believe in.

The rush for remote ID and the risk being touted by airline pilot unions is justified.

I have been told for instance that it's crazy to hold up the fatality rate in GA as a reason why they need more scrutiny. Perhaps you could tell me in the comments below why GA should get a pass? GA is not receiving the onslaught of misinformation from the media that the drone world receives.

These numbers are from the FAA's 2018 Fact Sheet - General Aviation Safety.

We all know the numbers for fatalities worldwide from sUAS, a big fat zero. There has been some damage and insurance claims, as there has been with GA.

Is it not time to have a serious conversation about General Aviation?

How can we allow OTHER to be one of the top 10 ways to die in an aircraft?

I am going to receive some hate for this let me tell from where I am coming from, I have been a manned pilot of various types for 35 years. I am not against manned flight, I love it. Flying has perhaps defined me.

Drone operators should share the skies in a safe manner with all airspace users but not have to bear the brunt of gut reaction regulation, not based in fact, from industries that really, should not throw stones.

RPAS are coming, just not as quickly as report and forecast peddlers would like.

#NoGABelow2k

The text of that sUAS News FOIA

Question: The number of “current” Remote Pilot Certificates on file.

Answer: The FAA does not maintain a database that shows the number of RPC holders who are current.  RPCs holders are current if their initial knowledge test was taken within the previous 24 calendar months, or if they hold an RPC and have taken the RPC recurrent knowledge test within the previous 24 calendar months. Further, if a person holds a pilot certificate issued under part 61 and meets their flight review requirements, they are current if they’ve passed either an initial or recurrent training course within the previous 24 calendar months.

As of 3/15/19, the airman registry indicates 126,299 individuals hold an RPC certificate. As of 3/15/19, 7,306 individuals have taken the RPC recurrent knowledge test. We presume these 7,306 individuals are RPC holders who passed their initial knowledge test in 2016 and 2017 and were nearing the end of their currency. We can verify that any individual RPC has passed the recurrent knowledge test or training course, but the information is not populated on the individual airman’s record.