News that by 2013, the FAA expects to have formulated new rules that would allow police across the country to routinely fly lightweight UAS up to 400 feet above the ground – high enough for them to be largely invisible eyes in the sky – has sparked off fresh debates about the boundaries of privacy in the US media, lead by The Washington Post.
Author Archives: The Editor
UVS International Launches 2011 UAS Photo Competition
UVS International has just launched its 2011 UAS Photo Competition. It is open to all association members, as well as companies & organizations that are not members, from all countries. Deadline for submission of photos is 15 April 2011. Click below to download the announcement pdf.
Shadow Crashes on Training Flight in Arizona
Gorgon Stares But Can’t See
A draft report by the US Air Force’s 53rd Wing Group at Eglin Air Force Base said that the new system, dubbed Gorgon Stare*, had “significant limitations,” and is “not operationally effective” and should therefore not be deployed in the field. The Sierra Nevada built device transmits live video from nine cameras and is intended to cover a three-mile area. It has been in development for the last two years. Testers found 13 serious deficiencies in the system, including:
US Customs Predator B Extends Northern Border Patrol
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine Predator B aircraft successfully completed the first long-range unmanned aircraft patrol to utilise the expanded certificate of authorization (COA) that was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week-increasing the effectiveness of homeland security unmanned aircraft missions in support of counternarcotics, counterterrorism and border security operations.
ManTech Wins $57M Naval Contract
ManTech International Corporation, a leading provider of innovative technologies and solutions for mission-critical national security programmes, has announced that the company has been awarded a $57 million contract by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to provide engineering, technical and administrative support for naval aircraft (including unmanned aircraft) and systems. The contract has a one-year period of performance plus four option years.
JPDO Gets New Look & New Deputy Director
The US Government’s Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), set up by the US Congress in 2003 to manage the partnerships designed to bring NextGen online, has a new look and a new Deputy Director, Mike Dudley (ex NASA).
China: Xiamen Test Flies UAS in Tong’an, Builds Research Centre
Mr. Zhao Jianqing, CEO of Xiamen Milestone Group, shows guests the Unmanned Aircraft
Xiamen Milestone Group has become the first enterprise in Fujian to design and make a successful trial flight of an unmanned aircraft. The trial flight was carried out on Jan 4th, 2011 and the company plans to market the aircraft in May this year.