Drones have posed danger to the lives of Government ministers said the Trinidad & Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), yet the technology will play such a big role in TT’s future that children should be allowed to fly them. Continue reading
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
FAA Finalizes Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Today, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or “drones”), opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace. These new regulations work to harness new innovations safely, to spur job growth, advance critical scientific research and save lives. Continue reading
FAA May Release Final Drone Rule this Week
The FAA may release its long-awaited final rule that would permit commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) this week. FAA published the notice of proposed rulemaking nearly a year and a half ago, and the UAS industry has been keeping up the pressure on FAA to finalize the rule. Continue reading
EASA’s ‘Non Paper’ Roadmap for EU Drone Operations
EASA has just produced a ‘Non Paper’ entitled: Roadmap for Drone Operations in the European Union – The roll-out of the EU operation centric approach. Continue reading
Germany to Revise Civil UAS Regulations
Due to the fast-growing number of drone operations, Minister of Transport Alexander Dobrindt recently announced the revision of the rules governing the use of civil drones in Germany. According to the minister, such use is not sufficiently regulated (eg, light drones equipped with cameras that can be controlled by smartphones). Continue reading
Analysis of FAA Data Shows Decline in UAS Sightings
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has released an updated analysis of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) drone data, which finds a month-by-month decline in unmanned aircraft system (UAS) sightings since peaking in August 2015. The apparent decrease in monthly sightings is remarkable as it comes despite an influx of nearly 700,000 to one million new devices sold last year. Continue reading
UK Start-Up Offers Airspace Alerts for Drone Operators
UK tech startup Altitude Angel is a drone cloud services company offering enhanced situational awareness information, real-time ‘air traffic control for drones’, as well as plug-in geofencing data targeted at manufacturers and developers. It has now unveiled a global airspace monitoring system that promises to help drone operators fly more safely and responsibly – Airspace Alerts.
FAA Quizzes Disney on Proposed Drone Exemption
The Federal Aviation Administration has responded to Disney’s request for an exemption under Section 333, permitting the company’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for theme park entertainment. After a period of time soliciting comments from the public — 12 in all, most decidedly against granting Disney the exemption — the FAA has responded, but with a series of questions seeking more clarification on Disney’s intents and implementation. Continue reading