The Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST) Drone Sightings Working Group has released a new report on the FAA’s 3,714 drone sightings reports collected by flight crews, air traffic controllers and citizens from November 2015 to March 2017. The report found that only a small percentage of drone reports pose a safety risk, while the vast […]
drones
Drone Trusted Operator Program takes off
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) reports it has appointed representatives from the industry to serve on a steering committee to develop the Trusted Operator Program (TOP) for remote pilots and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) training organizations. The TOP is a UAS community initiative to facilitate best practices, codes of […]
The Droner’s Manual published
New from ASA is “The Droner’s Manual: A Guide to the Responsible Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft.” In The Droner’s Manual, author Kevin Jenkins compiles the most important and relevant knowledge into a guide for both beginner and experienced operators, according to ASA officials. With his expertise as a unmanned aerial vehicle operator in government, industry, […]
Are airports the safest place to fly drones?
A veteran aviation attorney has proposed a counterintuitive idea: That airports just might be the safest places to fly drones. But the claim by Mark Dombroff of Alexandria, Va.-based law firm LeClairRyan, comes with quite a few qualifiers. The unregulated and unauthorized flight of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in and around airport airspace clearly is […]
No pilot? No problem!
An age-old component of aviation has been the pilot-in-the-loop. A pilot brings sophisticated human faculties to bear in solving problems of flight and making judgments on proper actions. But sometimes, the presence of a pilot can be detrimental — to the pilot. If an aircraft is to be subjected to dangers ranging from gun and […]
Tracking drones in flight
The FAA has released a report from its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Identification and Tracking Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on technologies available to identify and track drones in flight. The ARC’s 74 members included aviation community and industry member organizations, law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations, manufacturers, and researchers. According to FAA officials, the […]
Free drone webinar slated for Jan. 9
With the holiday season fast approaching, many individuals may find an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), also known as a drone, under their tree this year. It is important to know that there are regulations and safety practices that every UAS enthusiast should take into consideration before every flight to ensure safety and regulatory compliance. To find […]
FAA restricts drone operations over Department of Energy facilities
At the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, the FAA has restricted drone operations over seven Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. The FAA and DOE have agreed to restrict drone flights up to 400 feet within the lateral boundaries of these sites: Hanford Site, Franklin County, Washington; Pantex Site, Panhandle, Texas; Los […]
Defense Bill would reinstate drone registration
A defense funding bill now on its way to the White House for President Trump’s signature includes a provision that would reinstate mandatory registration for recreational small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) weighing less than 55 pounds. Passed by the Senate on Nov. 16, 2017, the National Defense Authorization Act includes language that would overturn a […]