Hydro-Québec subsidiary MIR Innovation is developing a drone with state-of-the-art applications for the nondestructive inspection and maintenance of power transmission and distribution lines. Continue reading
US Moves to Limit Drone Surveillance
Senator Edward J. Markey
Bicameral legislation was introduced last week to the U.S. houses of congress by Senator Edward J. Markey and Rep. Peter Welch to protect individual privacy from the growing number of government and commercial drones in use. The Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act (PDF) has been referred to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put together a drone advisory committee, which Recode reports FAA Office of Unmanned Aircraft Systems director Earl Lawrence referred to in response to Markey. Continue reading
Leidos Pilots New Service for UAS
Leidos Flight Service has created an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) service that helps safeguard the airspace by sending automatic notifications of unmanned aircraft operations to relevant groups. Continue reading
US Army to Evaluate Counter-Drone Gun System
Aware of the growing threat of bomb-laden mini drones that recently emerged in Iraq and Syria, the US Army is rushing to field countermeasures and kinetic effects designed specifically to defeat drones. Continue reading
Intel-Funded Yuneec Lays Off US Staff
Consumer drone manufacturer Yuneec International confirmed on Friday that it would lay off an undisclosed number of employees in its Americas division. Continue reading
Astral Aerial Wins IATA Innovation Award for ‘UTM Concept for Africa’
As IATA wrapped up its 11th World Cargo Symposium in Abu Dhabi on Friday, it announced that conference participants chose Astral Aerial Solutions as the winner of its 2017 Air Cargo Innovation award, amongst five finalists that had been narrowed down by a panel of judges. Continue reading
First BVLoS Power Line Inspection Flight in New Zealand
A Taranaki drone company has made history by flying an unmanned aircraft “beyond line of sight” to inspect power transmission lines in the Rimutaka Ranges. Continue reading
Eurocontrol’s RPAS Workshop Adresses Current ATM Operational Integration Issues
On Thursday 6 and Friday 7 April 2017, EUROCONTROL is hosting a RPAS workshop aiming to create a common picture of the current European integration status of RPAS operations below 500 ft. Present operations are mostly VLOS and several States have started BVLOS operations under certain conditions. Continue reading