The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) jointly flight-tested the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Lakshya from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Odisha coast last Friday.
Germany to Lead Development of European UAV
The German Defense Ministry is assuming the leadership role for development of a European drone, the so-called Medium Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted aircraft system or MALE RPAS. In a statement, the ministry also announced that Spain will participate as an equal fourth partner in the project.
Watchkeeper has Problems with UK Weather
The British Army has moved to accelerate the training of pilots for its £1.2bn Watchkeeper by sending them to the tropical Ascension Island for the winter after problems were found flying the aircraft in British weather. Continue reading
US Air Force Revamps the RPA Structure
The US Air Force has outlined steps it will take to improve the health and morale of its remotely piloted aircraft force, including new operating bases and doubling the total number of RPA flying squadrons. The steps, outlined in a news release follow a months-long review of the RPA force, called the Culture and Process Improvement Program.
FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras. Continue reading
Eldorado Droneport Under Construction Near Las Vegas
The Aerodrome and its partner, the City of Boulder City, NV, announced today the world’s first commercial droneport and teaching facility in Boulder City, NV. A droneport is a facility tailored specifically to Unmanned Air Systems (UAS). Unlike other planned droneport projects previously announced, The Aerodrome’s Eldorado Droneport has already broken ground, is fully funded, permanent and currently operational. This history-making project by Aerodrome and the City of Boulder City has the full support and approval of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Hundreds of ‘Close Encounters’ in US Airspace
A report just released from the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College identified 327 “close encounters” in U.S. airspace from December 2013 to September 2015 in which drones presented a hazard to manned aircraft. Of that total, at least 241 incidents met the Federal Aviation Administration’s definition of a near-collision — two aircraft flying within 500 feet of each other. Ninety of the close encounters involved commercial jets.
Chinese Amphibious UAV Conducts Maiden Flight
A China-made large amphibious UAV – “U650” – successfully conducted its maiden flight in the heavy fog and strong crosswinds above the waters in east China’s Jiangsu province in early December. The test flight lasted for 30 minutes. Continue reading