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 […]
UAS
Free drone tips webinar set for Jan. 9
Unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly known as drones, were popular gifts over the holiday season. While many systems are sold as ready to fly, it is important that new drone owners are aware of important regulations and safety practices. That’s why Kansas State Polytechnic is offering a free webinar and live question-and-answer session with Kansas State […]
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 […]
What happens when a drone hits a plane?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Initial research by a consortium of leading universities, through the Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE), have begun to bring better understanding to the physical damage associated with small unmanned aircraft — or drones — colliding midair with commercial and GA aircraft. The ASSURE research team set out to […]
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 […]
FAA seeks public input on drone design standards
For the first time, the FAA is seeking public comments on proposed airworthiness criteria for an unmanned aircraft system, more popularly known as a “drone.” The Federal Register notice asks for comments on proposed design standards needed for the FlightScan Corporation Camcopter S-100 to fly safely in U.S. airspace. The ultimate goal of this, and […]
Drone restores Puerto Rico cell service
The FAA has approved the first unmanned aircraft operation of its kind to help restore cellular service in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The Flying COW (Cell on Wings) drone, developed by AT&T, functions like a cell tower in the sky, restoring voice, data and internet service. It flies up to 200 […]