General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. has announced that it reached a significant milestone in its Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program to design, develop, and produce a variant of the Predator B RPA to be certified for flight according to the NATO Airworthiness Standard for unmanned aircraft.
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
Deadline Looming to Reauthorise FAA
Aviation industry leaders are looking anxiously but optimistically at lawmakers successfully meeting a Sept. 30 deadline for legislation for reauthorising the Federal Aviation Administration.
European RPAS Workshop on Technical, Regulatory Issues
As interest in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles rises rapidly in Europe, Mike Lissone, RPAS ATM integration programme manager for Eurocontrol, noted that attendees and presenters at the workshop looked to focus on technical and regulatory issues, such as sense and avoid, that need to be tackled just as rapidly. Lissone told Avionics Magazine that he likes to draw attention to some of the elements of future RPAS integration that will “come around the corner to haunt us.”
Singapore Launches One-Stop UAS Portal
Those interested in operating an unmanned aircraft in Singapore can now go to the one-stop online portal on the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) website to check and apply for the necessary permits from the relevant authorities. Continue reading
NASA and Verizon to Monitor UAS Network from Phone Towers
Verizon, the US’s largest wireless telecom company, is developing technology with NASA to direct and monitor America’s growing fleet of civilian and commercial drones from its network of phone towers. Continue reading
New Zealand Soon to Introduce UAS Legislation
New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges is keen to push ahead with “light handed risk-based” rules around drones after meeting politicians, United States regulators and companies including Google.
Unmanned Aircraft Encounters Increasing in USA
Nearly 200 encounters with unmanned aircraft, ranging from amusing to chillingly dangerous, were reported to the FAA between February and November of 2014; a list published by a New Orleans television station May 26 documents the growing use of drones—authorized and otherwise—and their infiltration of the National Airspace System.
UK Military Aviation Authority – Introduction of RPAS Regulations
On 19 January 2015 the UK Military Aviation Authority (MAA) concluded a 15 month, end-to-end review of Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) regulations with the introduction of a bespoke Regulatory Framework. This marked a significant milestone for the MAA as it not only formalised RPAS regulation as distinct from manned aircraft but also streamlined the process by which RPAS are introduced into Defence.