Category Archives: Regulatory Matters

FAA Administrator Opens UAS Registration Task Force Meeting

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force completed its first day of work. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta kicked off the Task Force with remarks that outlined the group’s objectives and expectations. The FAA briefed participants on the current statutory requirements and international obligations for aircraft registration before the group began initial discussions on a streamlined registration process and minimum requirements for UAS that need to be registered. The Task Force will continue deliberating on Wednesday. Continue reading →

Contracting for UAS Operators – Legal White Paper

Numerous businesses today are choosing to outsource their drone operations to professional operators. This is one of the significant observations in a new white paper, “Contracting With and Between UAS Operators” published this week by Global Aerospace, an international aviation and aerospace insurance provider, and Dentons, an international law firm expert in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Continue reading →

FAA Announces UAS Registration Task Force Members

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced the membership of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force. Earl Lawrence, Director of the FAA’s UAS Integration Office, and Dave Vos of Google X will co-chair the group. Continue reading →

First Fully Licensed Film Industry Drone Operator in SA

Drone Crew has received its Remote Operator Certificate (ROC) from SACAA on 23 October 2015, and is now fully licensed to operate (RPAS) drones in South Africa.

Drone Crew (Pty) Ltd is the first fully licensed RPAS (drone) operator in the South African film industry, and the 3rd fully licensed operator overall (the others being in Anti Rhino Poaching and Mining sectors). Continue reading →

Walmart Wants to Test Drone Deliveries Too

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. recently joined the trend of using drones for delivering products. The move of the world’s largest retailer came amid the growing race with online competitors such as Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.

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South Africa Grants First Commercial Drone Licence

South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has granted approval to the Rocketmine Division of Public Display Technologies (PDT) for the commercial operation of Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) – drones – for several key South African business sectors, including mining, agriculture and construction. Continue reading →

US DoT Seeks Public Comments on UAS Registration

In a surprise move, DOT just published a document,Clarification of the Applicability of Aircraft Registration Requirements for UAS and Request for Information Regarding Electronic Registration for UAS, to the Federal Register. DOT is soliciting recommendations on all aspects of the UAS registration process, including which UAS should be exempt from the registration requirement. Continue reading →

NASA Plans BLOS Testing for UAV ATM Integration

NASA plans to carry out beyond line-of-sight testing of an air traffic management component for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) in 2016, following on from a series of low-risk testing that took place last August. Continue reading →