NASA’s remotely-piloted Ikhana aircraft, based at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, successfully flew its first mission in the National Airspace System without a safety chase aircraft on June 12, 2018. This historic flight moves the United States one step closer to normalizing unmanned aircraft operations in the airspace used by commercial […]
Drone
FAA offers series of drone webinars
FAA Safety Inspector Kevin Morris and a team of experts will launch a series of webinars June 5, 2018, on drone waivers. The series of free webinars will cover the most requested Part 107 waivers under the FAA’s Small UAS Rule. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and talk to FAA experts, agency […]
Start of hurricane season highlights need for careful prep by drone pilots
The start of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, June 1, coincides with a drone-friendly policy shift at the FAA. However, before railroads, insurers, power companies, and other operators of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) show up in disaster zones with drones in tow, they should complete a checklist of bureaucratic and practical preparations, according to veteran […]
What every pilot needs to know about UAS
Pilots of manned aircraft want all drone pilots to know as much about aviation as they do. That’s the best way to mitigate hazards of mixing manned and unmanned aircraft into our nation’s airspace. But have you thought about it from the perspective of manned aviation understanding drone operations? A May 30, 2018, WINGsReality EDU […]
Aergility introduces ATLIS VTOL
The Aergility ATLIS unmanned aerial vehicle, according to Founder and CEO Jim Vander Mey, is designed to take off and land vertically using electrically powered rotors. Once airborne, a gas-powered engine will provide all forward thrust to push the ATLIS at speeds around 100 mph. An email reply from Jim states “the powerplant we have […]
King’s drone students can now study offline
Aspiring Drone Pilots can study when they are offline by using the free KING Companion App for iPad or iPhone together with King Schools’ Online Drone Pilot License Test Prep Course. The app allows students who are preparing for the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Knowledge Test to download their lessons, including all text, graphics, […]
Webinar slated on drone data
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) will host a webinar to discuss how businesses can navigate the enormous amount of data collected by unmanned systems. The webinar, “‘Data is the New Oil’ and Other XPONENTIAL Ideas,” will explore how businesses can harness the data collected by unmanned systems to address […]
FAA issues fact sheet for drone pilots
The FAA has issued a new fact sheet that gives the highlights of the agency’s rules for small unmanned aircraft (UAS) operations other than model aircraft — Part 107 of FAA regulations – that cover commercial and government uses for drones weighing less than 55 pounds. So if you need a refresher or are just […]
Drone training for first responders
Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus is working with law enforcement to offer a training course specifically targeted at how first responders can use unmanned aircraft systems in daily operations and safety procedures. The first course runs April 9-12, 2018, at the campus in Salina. Kurt Carraway, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and the executive […]