UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
In August, the Federal Aviation Administration missed a key deadline for developing rules for small commercial drones. Now the agency says that because of the delay, it will also miss its original September 2015 deadline for final rules. Continue reading
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority CASA has issued the first 24 bit address to allow a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) to be fitted with ADS-B (Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) so it can be seen by air traffic control and other commercial aircraft during flight.
The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted five regulatory exemptions for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations to four companies representing several industries that promise to benefit from UAS technology. Continue reading
The watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office issued report on the integration of unmanned aerial systems as it calls them, in US national airspace (NAS) today ahead of a congressional hearing on the topic. As it has noted in past reports, the GAO said the main issues continue to include the ability for drones to avoid other aircraft in the sky; what backup network is available and how should the system behave if it loses its communications link.
Thousands will receive drones as Christmas presents this year but, as a recent near-miss with an airliner shows, the authorities face a battle to stop them being used irresponsibly.
After many work group meetings SA CAA has finally reached agreement with CUAASA and Industry on the details of the “Phase 1 RPAS Regulations”. Continue reading
Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has announced a Certificate of Authorisation to start Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) operations with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), one of six authorised test sites established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of its larger program to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system (NAS).
Transport Canada has released the details of its new rules governing the commercial use of unmanned aerial systems. Last month, the agency, the equivalent of the FAA, announced a significant liberalization of so-called “low threat” UAS operations. Those were generally described as line-of-sight operations below 300 feet in rural areas away from airports by UASs weighing less than 4.4 pounds and up to 55 pounds. Continue reading