EasyJet hopes to introduce UAS to inspect its fleet of Airbus aircraft as early as next year following trials in the next few months.They will be programmed to scan and assess the carrier’s fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 planes, reporting back to engineers on any damage which may require further inspection or maintenance work.
Aurora Gets $14M US Navy Contract for iPad-based UAS controller
Aurora Flight Sciences has won a $13.7 million US Navy contract to complete development of a prototype system that allows an untrained operator to land an unmanned helicopter using a software application on an Apple iPad mini.
Lockheed Martin Demonstrates ADAM Ground-Based Laser System
In tests off the California coast, a Lockheed Martin prototype laser system successfully disabled two boats at a range of approximately 1.6 kilometers (approximately 1 mile). These were the first tests of the Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) system against maritime targets. Continue reading
6th Unmanned Systems Canada UAV Student Competition Winners Announced
Eleven university student teams from across Canada competed in the Operational Phase of the 6th Unmanned Systems Canada UAV Student Competition hosted by Southport Aerospace Centre, south of Portage la Prairie MB. Congratulations to VAMUdeS – Université de Sherbrooke for winning 1st Place on May 4, 2014. Continue reading
The Civil Use of Drones, a Challenge to Privacy ?
Privacy and data protection associated with the civil and commercial use of drones is of outmost importance for the European Commission.Considering the fast development of these applications, the Commission wants to ensure that privacy and data protection issues are properly addressed and taken into consideration. For that reason the EC has commissioned a study that is being carried out by a consortium led by Trilateral Research & Consulting. Continue reading
Robonic UAS Launchers Receive ISO and AQAP Quality Certificates
The Finnish manufacturer of unmanned air systems launchers Robonic Ltd Oy, a subsidiary of Sagem (Safran), has been awarded an ISO 9001 quality certificate and AQAP 2110 certificate. The latter contains requirements that are to be met for defence materiel procurements.
Saudi Arabia Buys China’s Pterodactyl UAS
Saudi Arabia has signed an agreement to purchase China’s Wing Loong medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, otherwise known as the Pterodactyl I, reports Huanqiu, the website of China’s nationalistic tabloid Global Times. Continue reading
FAA’s ‘Vision’ Is To Delegate Authority to UAS Test Ranges
The FAA aims to delegate authority to the six national unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test ranges it has chosen to issue their own experimental airworthiness certificates to manufacturers to test fly aircraft. The North Dakota test range, which planned to begin operations this week as the first range to receive an FAA certificate of authorization (COA), expects to eventually have two designated airworthiness representatives.