Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework for Regulation of UAS in the United States of America (USA)

This Chapter examines the regulatory framework of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the United States of America (USA). It examines how the framework addresses safety, security, and privacy challenges inherent in the use of UAS within the American jurisdiction. Specifically, it reviews the different safety, security, and privacy concerns arising from dirty, dull and dangerous missions of UAS in the United States (US) as earlier explained in Chaps. 1 and 2 . Further analysis is made of how and to what extent the US jurisdiction has adopted the international legal framework as outlined in Chap. 3 , in order to address challenges associated with integration of UAS into civil aviation. There is also evaluation of the history of UAS regulation in the US, specific UAS guidelines, institutional and policy framework provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as well as the role of courts in harnessing and addressing safety, security and privacy concerns associated with UAS operation in the civil aviation airspace.