In Chile, the civil aviation regulator recently updated the nation’s drone regulations. Previous Chilean rules governing unmanned aircraft systems (commonly known as drones) only required drone operators to request a simple permit from the Chilean civil aviation regulator, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), before they could launch a drone flight. The DGAC’s reliance on such a general, simplistic regulation led some to say that drone use was not well regulated. Continue reading
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
FAA Launches B4UFLY App for UAV Operators
The FAA has announced a smartphone application that aims to make it clear to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) enthusiasts where it’s legal to fly in the National Airspace System (NAS). The B4UFLY app, announced at the 2015 Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Conference in Atlanta, Ga. will allow hobbyists to determine whether there are any restrictions or requirements in effect at the location where they want to fly a UAV. Continue reading
FAA-Industry Initiative Will Expand Small UAS Horizons
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a partnership with industry to explore the next steps in unmanned aircraft operations beyond the type of operations the agency proposed in the draft small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) rule it published in February. Continue reading
Netherlands to Relax Rules on sUAS
The Dutch infrastructure ministry is working on new rules which will enable what it calls ‘commercial companies’ to use mini drones without having to apply for permits.
MIDCAS Demonstrates RPAS Integration Progress
The MIDCAS (Mid Air Collision Avoidance System) consortium together with the European Defence Agency (EDA) have now completed flight test and simulation campaigns conducted as part of the MIDCAS project. Continue reading
FAA Considers Beyond-Line-of-Sight Operations
U.S. aviation regulators are talking to drone makers and service providers about testing commercial drones that can fly beyond an operator’s visual line of sight, currently banned for safety reasons, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Continue reading
Mexico Publishes Regulations
Mexico has published rules governing the use of UAS, allowing people to operate the smallest drones in daylight without a permit but with safety rules. Continue reading
AOPA Comments on FAA Draft Rules
AOPA is asking the FAA to close gaps in the agency’s proposed rules governing small commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The association made the recommendations in formal comments filed April 22 in response to the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Continue reading