A report just released from the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College identified 327 “close encounters” in U.S. airspace from December 2013 to September 2015 in which drones presented a hazard to manned aircraft. Of that total, at least 241 incidents met the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of a near-collision — two aircraft flying within 500 feet of each other. Ninety of the close encounters involved commercial jets.
Author Archives: The Editor
Chinese Amphibious UAV Conducts Maiden Flight
A China-made large amphibious UAV – “U650” – successfully conducted its maiden flight in the heavy fog and strong crosswinds above the waters in east China’s Jiangsu province in early December. The test flight lasted for 30 minutes. Continue reading
France Orders Third Batch of Reapers
France has ordered a third batch of Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, with delivery in 2019 of three UAVs and two ground stations in the advanced block 5 version, a spokesman for the procurement office said Friday.
US Air Force Proposes $3-billion RPAS Expansion Plan
Connecticut DoT Tests Drones for Bridge Inspections
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) is testing an unmanned aerial vehicle to inspect the underside of the northbound Gold Star Memorial Bridge in New London on December 15th..
Smart Watch Drone with Auto Follow and Obstacle Avoidance
Shenzen-based FLYPRO Aerospace Tech Co., Ltd has released the XEagle equipped with auto follow and obstacle avoidance functions. Continue reading
Strat Aero Acquires Aero Kinetics for $24M
Aero Kinetics, the first company to file for FAA Type Certification for multi-rotor unmanned aircraft, announced a deal with Strat Aero US Holdings, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Strat Aero PLC . The acquisition of Aero Kinetics is valued at $24 US million with incentives. Continue reading
NORAD and US Air Force Ready to Track Santa
NORAD and the US Air Force are once again ready to track Santa as he makes his way around the world. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs USAF General Paul Selva told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Dec. 9. “I don’t have a complete intelligence report, senator, but I understand that the reindeer have in fact been fed their quantity of oats and are prepared for the delivery of all those gifts to those who have been nice and not naughty,” Selva said, in response to a question from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). Continue reading