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 […]
Unmanned Aerial Systems
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Embry-Riddle offers free online Drone Operation Course
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Worldwide Campus will offer a free, two-week open online course on drone operation, called Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Key Concepts for New Users. The course runs from Jan. 22 to Feb. 4, 2018. University officials note that it covers everything new users need to know to safely operate personal drones. “We have had consistently […]