Analyzing Proposed Unmanned Aerial System Regulations and Their Impact on Manned Aircraft Operations
Date of Defense
4-21-2026
Date of Graduation
5-2026
Department
Aviation
First Advisor
Steve Sparks
Second Advisor
David Kemp
Abstract
The purpose of the thesis is to investigate the current state of the proposed Part 108 regulations and to find possible solutions to the problems faced by Part 108 implementation, with a focus on the interactions between manned and unmanned aircraft. The thesis covers upcoming changes to federal aviation regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding unmanned aircraft systems and their integration into the national airspace system. Currently, most unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are regulated under Part 107 of the federal aviation regulation. A brief literature review will provide a background and timeline in the lead-up to the Part 108 proposal. The consensus of the various factions with vested interest in the changes will also be analyzed. The proposed new regulations would create a new category for the regulation of UAS operations under a new part: Part 108. The new bifurcation of regulations is due to the fact that the new regulations cover UAS operations beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) and autonomous operations, which were previously not covered under Part 107. With this integration comes the challenge of integrating these operations into an airspace that is already strained for capacity with manned operations alone. The interaction between manned and unmanned aircraft is the main conflict for implementation of 108. There are three areas in which solutions for manned/unmanned aircraft interaction will be investigated. These solutions look at:
1. The feasibility of current technologies implemented in manned aircraft (MA) being upscaled to unmanned operations;
2. The adoption of current technologies from other fields into aviation; and
3. Future technologies and networks that are still in the developmental phase
After the solutions are proposed and analyzed for practical application, a conclusion along with recommendations will follow. This conclusion will summarize the new problems faced, the possible solutions, and an estimated time-line as to when the industry can expect the FAA to release their final ruling.
Recommended Citation
Irish, Kordell, "Analyzing Proposed Unmanned Aerial System Regulations and Their Impact on Manned Aircraft Operations" (2026). Honors Theses. 4071.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/4071
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access
Presentation