AiRXOS, part of GE Aviation, has concluded real-world flight operations for the FAA’s first phase of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management Pilot Program (UPP). The UPP, established in 2017, was designed to identify the initial set of industry and FAA capabilities required to support UAS Traffic Management (UTM) operations. Continue reading
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
Drone REGIM – New Focus & Objectives
In accordance with the decisions taken at the Drone REGIM meeting on 23 May 2019, and taking into account additionally received inputs, recommendations and guidance, this European drone community action has refocused its priorities (Training & Qualification; Operations; Awareness Creation; Standards; Standard Scenarios), revised the activities of its working groups and launched Round 2 of this initiative. Continue reading
FAA Establishes Intermittent UAS Restrictions over Select Federal Facilities
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published NOTAM FDC 9/7752 that will allow for intermittent airspace restrictions of drones at select federal facilities nationwide. The NOTAM is effective from September 1, 2019. Continue reading
GA-ASI Receives FAA No-Chase COA for Unmanned Flights in North Dakota
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has received a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations by utilizing a Ground-based Sense and Avoid (GBSAA) system. The GBSAA system provides an alternative to using a more costly and operationally restrictive chase aircraft. Continue reading
Airbus Aerial Gets Waiver for Urban BVLOS UAS Flight Operations Over Populated Areas
Airbus Aerial has been granted a waiver by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations in Grand Forks, ND without the need for a visual observer. Continue reading
Kansas Approved for First BVLOS Drone Flight
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) received permission to conduct the first ever Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation in the nation leveraging only onboard detect-and-avoid systems. This is the first-ever FAA authorized operation to fly without a requirement for visual observers or ground-based radar and is the result of the 31-member Kansas Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team efforts to advance drone technologies. Continue reading
AirMap Demonstrates Dynamic Flight Plan Modification Capabilities During European U-space Trials
On August 13, 2019, AirMap and SESAR JU GOF USPACE partners completed a successful demonstration of the ability to dynamically modify a drone flight plan in-flight within a UTM system during an exercise simulating a marine search and rescue operation. Continue reading
Kansas Gets First BVLOS Waiver
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) received permission to conduct the first ever Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operation in the nation leveraging only onboard detect-and-avoid systems. Continue reading