MAPPS to Host Webinar on UAS Section 333 Application Process

RESTON, Va. - June 13, 2014 - PRLog -- MAPPS, the national trade association for private sector geospatial firms, today announced it will host a special webinar to discuss the process to apply with the Federal Aviation Administration for an exemption for commercial use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for aerial survey operations under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.

The webinar will take place Thursday, June 19 at 3:00 PM (EDT). The webinar will be moderated by Gregory Winton, Esq., MAPPS Aviation Counsel (The Aviation Law Firm, Frederick, MD) and John Palatiello, MAPPS Executive Director.

MAPPS has been engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on issues related to UAS for photogrammetry and remote sensing applications for more than five years. The webinar will review MAPPS engagement with the FAA, as well as the process for companies to apply for an exemption under Section 333. MAPPS is working with UAS manufacturers and providers of professional geospatial services on potential standards and guidelines for the safe use UAS.

"MAPPS has been an advocate for the use of unmanned aerial systems.  As a result, aerial surveys is identified in the 2013 FAA 'Roadmap' (http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/uas_roadma...) ," said Palatiello. "Private companies providing professional geospatial services conduct thousands of missions using manned aircraft each year, UAS is a new tool in the toolbox and we want to help enable our members to utilize this technology as soon as possible."

The webinar is open to MAPPS members and non-members. The registration fee is $75  for non-members and $35  for MAPPS members.  Registration is available on the MAPPS website, http://www.mapps.org/events/event_details.asp?id=449759&a...=

About MAPPS

Formed in 1982, MAPPS is the only national association exclusively comprised of private firms in the remote sensing, spatial data and geographic information systems field in the United States. The MAPPS membership spans the entire spectrum of the geospatial community, including Member Firms engaged in satellite and airborne remote sensing, surveying, photogrammetry, aerial photography, LIDAR, hydrography, bathymetry, charting, aerial and satellite image processing, GPS, and GIS data collection and conversion services. MAPPS also includes Associate Member Firms, which are companies that provide hardware, software, products and services to the geospatial profession in the United States and other firms from around the world. Independent Consultant Members are sole proprietors engaged in consulting in or to the geospatial profession, or provides a consulting service of interest to the geospatial profession.

MAPPS provides its member firms opportunities for networking and developing business-to-business relationships, information sharing, education, public policy advocacy, market growth, and professional development and image enhancement.

For more information on MAPPS, please visit www.mapps.org.