UAS VISION
an independent online news service for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems world
On 23 June 2014, the RPAS 2014 conference in Brussels, Belgium will be opened with a speech by Mr Siim Kallas, Vice President of the European Commission & Commissioner for Transport. The RPAS 2014 conference, which is coordinated with ICAO, European Commission, European RPAS Steering Group, EASA, SESAR JU, EUROCONTROL, EDA, JARUS, ECAC, and the International RPAS Coordination Council, will be Europe’s most important RPAS event in 2014. Continue reading
A major milestone has been recorded by the Australian unmanned aircraft industry with the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) having now certified more than 100 commercial UAV operators. The milestone was reached during the course of last week. Continue reading
The FAA is working to approve limited commercial operations by unmanned aircraft in specific applications, such as crop spraying, that pose a low risk to those on the ground. Four industries have approached the agency about using language in the 2012 FAA reauthorisation act to get an exemption to the ban on civil UAS, says Jim Williams, UAS integration office manager. Continue reading
By R. Michael Senkowski, Anna M. Gomez, and Katy M. Ross
The First Responder Network Authority, or FirstNet, is charged with deploying the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety. This network provides an excellent platform for public safety to deploy and use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). UAS are an important tool for public safety, whether for law enforcement, fire response, or emergency services response. UAS providers and manufacturers should therefore be engaged with FirstNet’s efforts to plan and deploy its network. Continue reading
Privacy and data protection associated with the civil and commercial use of drones is of outmost importance for the European Commission.Considering the fast development of these applications, the Commission wants to ensure that privacy and data protection issues are properly addressed and taken into consideration. For that reason the EC has commissioned a study that is being carried out by a consortium led by Trilateral Research & Consulting. Continue reading
The FAA aims to delegate authority to the six national unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test ranges it has chosen to issue their own experimental airworthiness certificates to manufacturers to test fly aircraft. The North Dakota test range, which planned to begin operations this week as the first range to receive an FAA certificate of authorization (COA), expects to eventually have two designated airworthiness representatives.
Anyone purchasing a UAS from a major retailer will be handed guidelines for flying model aircraft in a deal reached with the Australian national Civil Aviation Safety Authority amid a surge in sales. The move follows two separate investigations into recent crashes. A man was fined $850 after crashing his drone into the Sydney Harbour Bridge last year, while witnesses are being sought after a woman suffered head injuries after being hit by one in Western Australia. Continue reading
The Federal Aviation Administration fined David Zablidowsky $2,200 for a September incident in which he flew a quad-copter off a building on East 38th Street in Manhattan. The FAA said Zablidowsky didn’t get permission from air-traffic controllers to fly the drone, which hit two high-rises before crashing near Grand Central Terminal. Continue reading