The Verge has partnered with the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College to collect data on every commercial exemption the FAA grants. It’s a fascinating snapshot of a fast-growing industry still in its infancy.
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
Analysis of FAA Section 333 Exemptions
At the end of July, the FAA granted its 1,000th exemption. An analysis of the exemptions, as reflected in the chart below, shows that nearly half are for applications involving photography, including videography and film production. The next most frequent industries cited in approved exemption petitions are real estate and utilities/energy/infrastructure, which made up roughly one-third and one-quarter, respectively, of granted exemptions. Rounding out the top five are agriculture and construction, both appearing in around one-fifth of approved exemption petitions. Continue reading
FAA Releases Updated Model Aircraft Guidance
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published updated guidance on model aircraft operations that reflects current law governing hobby or recreational use of unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
FAA Selects New Unmanned Aircraft Executives
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected Marke “Hoot” Gibson and Earl Lawrence for two executive-level positions that will guide the agency’s approach to safe, timely and efficient integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into U.S. airspace.
Hoot Gibson will become the Senior Advisor on UAS Integration, a position established to focus on external outreach and education, inter-agency initiatives and an enterprise-level approach to FAA management of UAS integration efforts. He will report directly to the FAA Deputy Administrator. Continue reading
Report on RPAS Incidents in The Netherlands
The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate in The Netherlands has just release a report of incidents involving remotely piloted, unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
FAA Releases B4UFLY App Beta Test for UAS Users
On Friday August 28t, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the beta version of a new smartphone application called “B4UFLY” for testing by up to 1,000 unmanned aircraft users.
The B4UFLY app, aimed primarily at model aircraft enthusiasts, is designed to give users information about restrictions or requirements in effect at their current or planned flight location. The FAA expects the beta test will yield valuable data on how well B4UFLY functions, as well as uncovering any software bugs.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta first announced the initiative in May, asking for volunteers to test the app. The FAA has notified those who previously signed up and will be pushing the app to them directly in the coming days.
Many unmanned aircraft users today have little or no aviation experience, and some of them are flying where they could endanger manned aircraft. B4UFLY will give these flyers the tools and knowledge they need to operate safely. Continue reading
Paper Plane Gets 333 Exemption
In a possible sign of how seriously FAA is taking unmanned aircraft operations in national airspace — or maybe just a sign of how absurd matters have gotten — the FAA has approved the first ever toy powered paper airplane to fly commercially in U.S. airspace. Continue reading
US Department of Transport to Audit UAS Approvals
DOT’s Inspector General (IG) plans to begin an audit this month of FAA’s current processes for approving civil unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations and overseeing their safe operation, noting “the significant and complex challenges” of safely integrating UAS into the national airspace system. Continue reading