The major drawback in mixing UAVs with conventional aircraft today is the former’s questionable ability to see and avoid conflicting traffic, unionized air traffic controllers maintain.

Here are FAA headquarters’ answers to questions posed on UAV operation. 1. BCA: The deployment of civil UAVs in the NAS — when and where? FAA: Currently, there are 60 unmanned aircraft systems representing 17 aircraft types operating in the NAS under Special Airworthiness Certificate — Experimental Category. With current rulemaking under way, we are expecting small (less than 55 pounds) UAS(s) to operate starting early in 2013 under day, visual flight conditions.

Thus, holding or vectoring aircraft away from each other because of see-and-avoid responsibilities, as well as attempts to exempt Part 91.113, would so negatively impact controller workload, Bricker contends, that both safety and efficiency in the NAS would be compromised — in other words, the system would slow down to the point where a majority of aircraft would be denied service.