The Federal Aviation Administration has established an interim policy to speed up airspace authorizations for certain commercial unmanned aircraft (UAS) operators who obtain Section 333 exemptions. The new policy helps bridge the gap between the past process, which evaluated every UAS operation individually, and future operations after we publish a final version of the proposed small UAS rule. Continue reading
iDrone…?
German designer Eric Huisman mocked up a sleek drone concept called the Apple Quadcopter, which has a minimalistic black-and-white design. It’s very, well, Apple.
DARPA Awards Prime Contracts for Tern Phase 2
DARPA has awarded prime contracts for Phase 2 of Tern, a joint programme between DARPA and the U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research (ONR). The goal of Tern is to give forward-deployed small ships the ability to serve as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Game of Thrones Bans Drones
Crafty Game Of Thrones fans have been thwarted from getting any sneak behind-the-scenes peeks after a ban on drones above the set. Signs erected close to the filming studios in Titanic Quarter, East Belfast, warn of a “no-fly zone” . Continue reading
Google Targets Low-Cost ADS-B Out Avionics Market
Google’s quest to introduce small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into low altitude airspace within a “few years” has driven the company to launch an unexpected foray into the avionics market, says Dave Vos, head of the Internet company’s Project Wing. Continue reading
SAAB Teams with Reliance Defence for Indian Navy UAS
SAAB has tied up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence and Aerospace to bid for the ship-borne unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme of the Indian Navy, valued at 1,000 crore ($160M).
Armed UAV Exports Limited Despite Demand
An arms transfer study from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) claims that only the UK and Nigeria have been the recipients of armed unmanned air vehicles, despite “widespread interest” in their acquisition. Continue reading

