“The drone industry – in 2014 – delivered enough units to more than double the entire number of aircraft in the United States,” says NoFlyZone.org founder Ben Marcus. “And that, for many people, is a privacy issue.” With that, Marcus – an ATP-rated pilot, flight instructor and co-founder of aircraft brokerage firm jetAVIVA, launched NoFlyZone.org. “Most of […]
RPA
FAA expands RPA airspace in North Dakota
The FAA has expanded the airspace for remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) in North Dakota. Two Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COAs) awarded to the Northern Plains UAS Test Site “greatly expand” the airspace available for research flights to most of northeastern North Dakota, according to FAA officials. FAA officials add that they soon expect to […]
FAA grants eight more RPA exemptions
The FAA has granted eight more regulatory exemptions for commercial use of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operations, bringing the total number of exemption grants to 24. The agency has issued new exemptions to Total Safety U.S. Inc. for flare stack inspections, to LikeonaTree Aerial for aerial photography and surveys, and to Team 5, Shotover Camera Systems, Helinet […]
RPA and football don’t mix, FAA warns
The FAA has issued a warning to operators of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA): Don’t even think about flying over the Super Bowl this Sunday to get your own view of the action.The agency notes that the Super Bowl is strictly a “No Drone Zone.” The FAA bars unauthorized aircraft — including RPAs — from flying over or near NFL […]
RPA test flights slated over Atlantic Ocean
The New Jersey Institute of Technology plans to conduct remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) flight in the National Airspace over the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 27-29.The flights, which will take off from the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center (TRACEN) in Cape May, N.J., will test the feasibility of safely integrating RPAs into the public airspace and to assess the […]
FAA asks law enforcement for help in policing RPAs
The proliferation of small, relatively inexpensive remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) has created a challenge for the FAA, which is why the agency has asked the law enforcement community to help identify people who don’t follow the rules of the air or who endanger the nation’s airspace. On Jan. 8, the FAA released some guidance to the law […]
RPA company raises $10 million
SAN FRANCISCO – EHANG, which makes a personal remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), has closed $10 million in Series A funding led by GGV Capital. Angel investors in the round are Xiaoping Xu and Nick Yang, two of China’s most successful entrepreneurs. PreAngel, a fund focused on early stage startups, is also contributing to the round. […]
Sensurion’s MP-1 opens Nevada UAS test site
BOULDER CITY, Nevada – Sensurion Aerospace‘s Magpie MP-1 officially opened Nevada’s UAS Test Range on Friday, Dec. 19. The Magpie MP-1 holds a Special Airworthiness Certificate from the FAA and carries U.S. registration N106MP. “This is a great day for the State of Nevada, the FAA, and Sensurion Aerospace,” said Sensurion CEO Captain Joe Burns. “This is an important […]
FAA kicks off RPA public awareness campaign
Santa Claus may travel on a reindeer-powered sleigh, but he’s expected to deliver a ton of high-flying remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) this week to teenagers and other amateur aviators, which is making for an anxious yuletide season at the FAA, according to a report in The Washington Post. On Monday, the FAA and the RPA industry kicked […]