The Singapore Parliament has just passed the Unmanned Aircraft (Public Safety and Security) Bill, which sets out guidelines for the safe flying of drones and enforcement against those who violate them. The new law, which amends the Air Navigation Act and Public Order Act, will take effect from next month.
China Tests Domestic Engine in CH-3 UAV
China has recently run its first successful test flight of its CH-3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a locally made aircraft engine, reports the PLA Daily, the official newspaper of China’s armed forces.
European Pilots Want Regulations on Recreational Users
In a new position paper, the European Cockpit Association – the European pilots’ union – have outlined a number of prerequisites for the safe integration of light RPAS, often referred to as ‘toys’, into Europe’s low level airspace. Continue reading
Wallet Drone Fits in your Pocket
A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the Wallet Drone The tiny quadrocopter fits inside a controller box and that controller is the one that is the size of a wallet. Continue reading
NMSU UAS Test Flight Center Earns New FAA Authorization
The Federal Aviation Administration has transitioned its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, in place since 2007, with New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Laboratory, to an Other Transaction Agreement for the operation of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Test Center. Continue reading
Drexel University Joins FAA UAS Research Team
Drexel University is one of several core research institutions that will be part of the FAA’s recently-announced National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, led by Mississippi State University, alongside dozens of associate research, commercial and government partners.
Amazon Patent Links UAS Delivery to Smartphone
The US Patent and Trademark Office revealed an Amazon.com, Inc. patent filing, which highlighted the e-commerce giants’ plan to propel its unmanned delivery service for commercial purposes. According to the approved filing, drone deliveries will be navigated by pulling location data from a customers’ smartphone — where real-time routes and directions are constantly updated to guide the delivery process.
New Regulations for UAS in Chile
In Chile, the civil aviation regulator recently updated the nation’s drone regulations. Previous Chilean rules governing unmanned aircraft systems (commonly known as drones) only required drone operators to request a simple permit from the Chilean civil aviation regulator, the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), before they could launch a drone flight. The DGAC’s reliance on such a general, simplistic regulation led some to say that drone use was not well regulated. Continue reading