Safe Integration of New & Existing Airspace Users

Each space launch requires large portions of airspace to be temporarily closed, often for hours at a time. This forces commercial flights to take longer, less efficient routes, leading to delays, increased fuel consumption, and higher operational costs. Additionally, reentry debris from failed or uncontrolled missions can introduce unexpected hazards.

Space debris includes spent rocket stages, defunct satellites, and fragments from past space missions that remain in orbit. While some of this debris burns up upon reentry, larger pieces can survive and fall unpredictably through airspace used by commercial aircraft.

Unlike controlled reentries, uncontrolled space debris can enter Earth's atmosphere at unexpected times and locations. Without real-time alerts, pilots may unknowingly fly into high-risk zones, increasing the potential for midair hazards. ALPA is advocating for global coordination to ensure flight crews receive timely warnings about falling debris and can adjust flight paths accordingly.

Currently, aircraft and spacecraft do not fully share the same airspace. Space launches and reentries require large sections of airspace to be closed for safety, forcing aircraft to reroute. However, future advancements in air traffic management, data exchange, and surveillance could allow for more efficient integration, reducing disruptions to commercial aviation while maintaining safety.

The aviation and commercial space industries can collaborate by improving data sharing, enhancing situational awareness, and developing integrated air traffic management systems. Investments in technology like real-time tracking, automated decision-making tools, and refined airspace management procedures can help minimize disruptions. Coordination between regulators, air traffic controllers, airlines, and space operators is essential to safely integrating space operations into the NAS.

ALPA participates in commercial space rulemaking committees, advocates for FAA policies that balance aviation and space needs, and pushes for international standards to reduce risk from space debris and airspace closures. We continue to engage with regulators, lawmakers, and industry leaders to keep the national airspace safe, efficient, and predictable.

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are aircraft controlled by a pilot who is not physically onboard. They operate from a remote station and can vary in size and capability. While often referred to as "drones," this term is misleading, as drone can refer to any unmanned aircraft, whether remotely operated or fully autonomous.

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) is an umbrella term that includes RPA and fully autonomous aircraft, along with the supporting infrastructure required for their operation, such as control stations and communication links. RPA are a subset of UAS, distinguished by the presence of a human pilot actively controlling the aircraft from a remote location.

RPA share airspace with passenger and cargo aircraft but lack the same level of onboard pilot oversight, increasing risks such as midair collisions, loss of control due to communication failures, and unpredictable flight behavior. Without strict safety standards, RPA can disrupt air traffic, interfere with emergency procedures, and pose security threats near airports.

Safe integration requires strict regulatory oversight, including pilot training requirements, aircraft certification, and the adoption of critical technologies such as detect-and-avoid systems. RPA must also be subject to the same rigorous safety and operational standards as commercial aircraft to prevent unintended hazards in controlled airspace.

Unlike traditional aircraft, RPA rely entirely on a remote Command and Control (C2) link. If this link is lost, the aircraft may become unresponsive, leading to uncontrolled flight paths and potential collisions. To mitigate this risk, RPA must have fail-safe protocols, such as automatic return-to-home systems or programmed emergency landing procedures.

Current RPA regulations vary and often fail to fully address their growing presence in commercial airspace. While some rules exist for small RPA, larger remotely piloted aircraft operating beyond visual line of sight require stronger oversight. Governments must establish comprehensive certification standards, enforce operational limits, and require advanced safety technologies to ensure RPA do not compromise air travel safety.