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.
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
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.
Experts Discuss RPAS Operations in Commercial Airspace
The business aviation community had a chance to discuss its concerns over the likelihood of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) flying in civil airspace during a conference session at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition last week. Continue reading
FAA Streamlines COAs for UAS Test Sites
The Federal Aviation Administration has made it simpler for the six unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) test sites to conduct research by giving them “blanket” authorizations to fly public aircraft operations throughout the National Airspace System at or below 200 feet. Continue reading
US Department of Justice Issues Guidelines for Unmanned Aircraft
The US Department of Justice has issued agency-wide policy guidance on the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) that sets standards of use and management controls of UAS by the department and its components. Continue reading
Senators, Congressmen, Praise New UAS Research
Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives pledged to continue their support for a newly-designated FAA Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems that will research and develop technologies and policies for the use of unmanned aerial systems, or drones, in the United States. Continue reading
South Africa Introduces Regulations
New rules regulating the use of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), popularly known as drones have been signed by the Minister of Transport, Ms Dipuo Peters and will be officially be put into effect 01 July 2015
Director of Civil Aviation Poppy Khoza said the South African Civil Aviation Authority, a member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) RPAS Panel, had engaged with a number of key role players such as operators, manufacturers, and other airspace users and after months of amendments and incorporating requests by various stakeholders a draft was approved by the Minister of Transport on 5 May 2015. Continue reading
Drones Banned from 81 Tokyo Parks
The Tokyo metropolitan government has prohibited people from operating drones in all metropolitan parks, officials said. A total of 81 parks and gardens managed by the metropolitan government are subject to the ban, which also prohibits people from bringing drones into the parks.