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).
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
Canada Issues Clear Guidelines for UAS Flying
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
New Zealand Consults on New UAS Regulations
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in New Zealand is asking the public as well as industry professionals to have their say on the proposed new rules for ‘unmanned aircraft operations’. Most drones currently fall under regulations designed for model aircraft, but are capable of flying much faster, further and higher than traditional model planes. Continue reading
US National Transportation Safety Board Rules that Drones are Aircraft
The US National Transportation Safety Board has issued a new ruling stating that drones are, in fact, aircraft. The NTSB ruling means there could be fines for anyone operating a drone in a manner that the Federal Aviation Administration deems reckless or careless. Continue reading
New President and CEO for AUVSI
Brian Wynne has been named president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, succeeding the retiring Michael Toscano on 12 Jan. 2015.
Wynne is currently president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), a post he has held since April 2004. The organization promotes battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles and infrastructure.
“I am excited to be joining AUVSI at this pivotal time for the unmanned systems and robotics industry,” Wynne said. “From unmanned aircraft to ground robots to maritime systems to automated vehicles, this industry will continue to revolutionize our daily lives. I’m happy to play a leading role by taking the reins of this organization, which for more than four decades has worked to advance and promote these technologies.”
UMD UAS Test Site Receives FAA COA
The University of Maryland (UMD) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site, located in California, Md., has received a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly the Talon 240, designed and manufactured by UAV Solutions, Inc. of Jessup, Md.
Don’t Fly Drones Here – UK Edition
UK drone enthusiast James Harvey has created a free site, not for profit, called NoFlyDrones that just highlights the areas in the UK that RPAS operators should not operate in. He made it after he saw numerous complaints and difficulties that non aviation related people were having when reading aviation maps. So this puts the same information pertinent to RPAS operators on a simple interface. Continue reading
Drone in Florida Near Miss was a Model F-4
The FAA is still investigating the incident involving a drone and a US Airways jet over Florida in spring. But the newly released record offers a reminder that not everyone agrees on what is meant by the word “drone,” a term that can encompass anything from a toy quadcopter to a military weapon — complicating the debate about whether, and how, federal authorities should regulate their use in the civilian skies. Continue reading