Author Archives: The Editor

The Space Between: Who Controls the Airspace Where Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Fly?

By Joshua S. Turner, partner and co-chair of the UAS Practice, and John T. Lin, associate in the Telecom, Media & Technology Practice, at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington, DC

 No one disputes that the federal government has exclusive jurisdiction over “navigable air space,” which has historically begun “above the minimum safe altitudes of flight,” including the airspace needed to ensure safety in the takeoff and landing of aircraft.  The FAA generally sets the minimum safe altitude as “500 feet above the surface [of non-congested areas], except over open water or sparsely populated areas.”  Continue reading

FAA Settles with Skypan on Airspace Violations

FAA Logo type

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has  announced a comprehensive settlement agreement with SkyPan International, Inc., of Chicago. The agreement resolves enforcement cases that alleged the company operated unmanned aircraft (UAS) in congested airspace over New York City and Chicago, and violated airspace regulations and aircraft operating rules.  Continue reading

Drones to Help Build New Metro Corridors in Mumbai

mumbai-metroThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is planning to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the construction of the upcoming Metro rail corridors in the city. Aerial surveys for construction of the DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd (Metro 2B) route, and the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli (Metro 4) route will be conducted using drones.

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