As the Royal Navy moves towards retiring its only unmanned air vehicle from service in 2017, industry has presented a number of upgrades to UK-operated systems to try and tempt the service into continuing operations with such technology. Continue reading
DARPA ARES VTOL First Flight for Fall 2017
A bevy of new vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aircraft conceived to take the military beyond the speed, range and altitude limits of helicopters are scheduled to fly over the next two years. None looks more like science fiction becoming science fact than a sort of flying candy crane formerly known as “Transformer.”
US Marine Corps Seeks VTOL Unmanned Aircraft for ISR
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has issued a request for information (RfI) for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). Continue reading
UK MoD and CAA to ‘Test-Crash’ Drones
Drones will be deliberately smashed into passenger jets as part of a radical testing programme triggered by fears of a catastrophe in British skies. Ministers ordered the tests after a series of near misses, some near major airports. Continue reading
FAA Publishes Clarification of the Applicability of Aircraft Registration Requirements for UAS
This document clarifies the applicability of the statutory requirements regarding aircraft registration to UAS, including those operating as model aircraft. In addition, the DOT announces the formation of a UAS registration task force to explore and develop recommendations to streamline the registration process for UAS to ease the burden associated with the existing aircraft registration process. Continue reading
EAS & FAI Respond to EASA Rules for UAS
Europe Air Sports (EAS) and the Fédération Aéronautique International (FAI) have issued the following Response to EASA Prototype Rules for Unmanned Aircraft: Continue reading
FAA Ads UAS to Lost Link Procedures
The FAA has just issued a notice which amends procedures contained within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 7110.65W, Air Traffic Control, and introduces Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) lost link procedures. Continue reading
Turkish Bayraktar TB2 Flying from Batman
As Turkey pushes toward becoming a major player in the UAV industry, seeing more of their drones on satellite imagery beyond test airfields should come as no surprise. DigitalGlobe space snapshots from October 2015 captured one of the country’s latest drones, the Bayraktar TB2, complete with its ground control station, parked in front of an aircraft shelter at Batman air force base. Continue reading