UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES -- UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- HOMELAND SECURITY: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES AND BORDER SURVEILLANCE -- SUMMARY -- BACKGROUND -- CONGRESSIONAL MANDATES FOR THE USE OF UAVS -- BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS OF UAVS -- Benefits -- Limitations -- Other Concerns -- ISSUES FOR CONGRESS -- Costs vs. Benefits -- UAV Effectiveness -- Lack of Information -- Coordination with USBP Agents -- Safety Concerns -- Implementation Schedule -- Possible Alternatives -- END NOTES -- UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: FEDERAL ACTIONS NEEDED TO ENSURE SAFETY AND EXPAND THEIR POTENTIAL USES WITHIN THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- RESULTS IN BRIEF -- BACKGROUND -- FEDERAL AGENCIES HAVE USED UASS IN MANY WAYS AND EXPANDED GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL USE IS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE -- Federal Agencies Are Benefiting from Using UASs -- Interest Exists in Expanding UAS Operations to Obtain More Benefits -- ROUTINE ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM POSES TECHNOLOGICAL, REGULATORY, WORKLOAD, AND COORDINATION CHALLENGES -- Several Technological Issues Must Be Addressed before UASs Can Routinely Access the National Airspace System -- UASs Cannot Detect, Sense, and Avoid Other Aircraft in a Manner Similar to Manned Aircraft -- UASs Have Communications, Command, Control, and Physical Security Vulnerabilities -- UASs Have Shown a Lack of Reliability -- Human Factors Deficiencies in UAS Design Have Caused Accidents -- A Lack of Regulations Limits UAS Operations -- Coordinating with Other Countries' Efforts to Integrate UASs Is a Key Task -- FAA Faces Increased Workload to Process COA and Special Airworthiness Certificate Applications for UAS Operations -- Coordination among Federal Agencies and Others Is Lacking.

FULLY ADDRESSING UAS CHALLENGES INVOLVES SEVERAL AGENCIES AND COULD TAKE A DECADE OR LONGER -- Federal Agencies Are Addressing Some Technological Issues -- FAA Is Sponsoring Research on Detect, Sense, and Avoid Technologies and Other Topics -- FAA Has Begun to Address Radio Frequency Spectrum Allocation for UASs to Ensure Uninterrupted Communications, Command, and Control -- DOD Is Working to Improve UAS Reliability and Incorporate Human Factors in UAS Design -- A Federal Advisory Body Is Developing Technical Standards -- Security Implications of Routine UAS Access to the National Airspace System Have Not Been Addressed -- FAA Is Establishing a Regulatory Framework, but Routine UAS Access to the National Airspace May Not Occur for a Decade or More -- FAA Has Created an Unmanned Aircraft Program Office to Ensure That UASs Operate Safely -- FAA Seeks Data on UAS Operations, but Progress Is Slow -- FAA Is Coordinating with Other Countries to Harmonize Regulations -- FAA Is Mitigating Anticipated Workload Increase by Automating Some COA Processing Steps, and GSA Is Working to Develop an Inventory of Federal UASs -- Experts and Stakeholders Believe an Overarching Entity Could Facilitate Efforts to Achieve Routine UAS Access to the National Airspace System -- IMPACT OF ROUTINE UAS OPERATIONS IS UNKNOWN -- CONCLUSION -- MATTER FOR CONGRESSIONAL CONSIDERATION -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION -- AGENCY COMMENTS -- APPENDIX I: SCOPE AND METHODS -- APPENDIX II: SURVEY METHODS -- END NOTES -- UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS: ADDITIONAL ACTIONS NEEDED TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION OF DOD EFFORTS TO SUPPORT WARFIGHTER NEEDS -- WHY GAO DID THIS STUDY -- WHAT GAO RECOMMENDS -- WHAT GAO FOUND -- RESULTS IN BRIEF -- BACKGROUND -- DOD's Increasing Reliance on UAS -- Organizations Involved in UAS Management and Integration.

DEPARTMENTAL AND MILITARY SERVICE EFFORTS ARE UNDER WAY TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL USE OF UAS -- New and Existing Organizations within DOD Are Intended to Address UAS Challenges -- Several Studies Are under Way to Assess Long-Term UAS Demand and to Improve UAS Effectiveness -- Roadmap Is Intended to Guide UAS Planning -- The Military Services Have Initiated Efforts Intended to Improve UAS Management and Operational Use -- DOD EFFORTS LACK ELEMENTS OF AN OVERARCHING ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL USE OF UAS -- DOD Has Not Designated a Single Office or Entity That Is Accountable for Integrating UAS Efforts -- DOD Lacks a Strategy to Facilitate Effective Communication of UAS Efforts -- DOD Lacks a Comprehensive and Integrated Plan to Align Efforts to Improve Management and Operational Use of UAS -- CONCLUSIONS -- RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION -- AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION -- APPENDIX I: SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY -- APPENDIX II: COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -- END NOTES -- CHAPTER SOURCES -- INDEX.