Hollywood’s Drone War: Licensed Pilots or Unionized Photographers?

Game of ThronesFate of the Furious and Jurassic World are just some of the Hollywood productions in recent years taking advantage of drone technology for stunning aerial shots. But how about the individuals who remotely pilot these drones? Where do they fit in within the entertainment industry’s labor ranks? Continue reading

Tracking a Supercell Thunderstorm by UAS

The most ambitious drone-based investigation of severe thunderstorms to date will soon be launched by atmospheric scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and three partner institutions: Texas Tech University, the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory. Continue reading

GA-ASI Certifiable Ground Control Station Controls First End-to-End Flight

The Certifiable Ground Control Station (CGCS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) was used to control the complete flight of an MQ-9B SkyGuardian – including takeoff and landing – on March 12th. This is the first time the CGCS has been used to control an entire end-to-end flight of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). Continue reading

Beware of Low-Flying Agricultural Aircraft this Season

The National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA) is asking all Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operators to be aware of agricultural aircraft operations this growing season. As UAS operators know, UAS are not allowed above 400 feet without a waiver from the FAA. However, UAS operators should also know agricultural aviators fly as low as 10 feet off the ground when making an application, meaning they share this low-altitude airspace with UAS. Continue reading