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 […]
Unmanned Aerial Systems
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 […]
Unmanned Safety Institute launches PRO certification for drone drivers
The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI), which provides remote pilot training and certification to individuals, organizations, and enterprises around the world, has launched a new Professional Remote Operator (PRO) certification. The PRO certification program was designed to offer a new credential to remote pilots who would like to differentiate themselves from other remote pilots who simply […]
Jump into the world of drones
The FAA projects that between 2016 and 2020 sales of small, hobbyist unmanned aircraft systems and sales of UAS for commercial purposes are expected to grow from 2.5 million to 7 million. Four Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University professors have written a guide to help enthusiasts better understand the booming field. The Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) […]
Do gamers make better drone pilots?
A new study shows that video game players could make better drone pilots than general aviation pilots. For the study, designed to help address the shortage of pilots to fly unmanned aerial systems (UAS), researchers from the University of Liverpool tested the abilities of gamers, professional pilots and general aviation pilots. The 60 participants took part […]
Ohio State sets drone world speed record
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University’s Aerospace Research Center recently set a world speed record for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of any size, pending verification. Ohio State’s drone flew autonomously with sustained average speeds of 147 mph over an out-and-back course approximately 28 miles long, which also set a record for the longest […]
The ultimate guide to how to fly a drone
Interested in venturing into the drone arena? Jess Miller recently wrote a detailed 7,000-word guide on how to fly a drone that is packed with tips and advice. It begins: “If you’ve got a drone and you don’t know how to fly it yet, don’t despair – flying a drone isn’t rocket science. It’s not exactly […]
Drone flies 56 hours without refueling
The FAI has ratified a world record for flight duration for an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The VA001, an unmanned aircraft that looks like a glider but is powered by a diesel engine, successfully flew for 55 hours, 56 minutess non-stop and without re-fueling on Dec. 2, 2016. The flight took place at New […]