Senator John Hoeven said that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is on track to select six unmanned aerial system (UAS) pilot sites by the end of the year to integrate remotely piloted aircraft into the National Airspace. Continue reading
US Air Force Prepares to Issue RFP for Airborne Sense and Avoid
U.S. Air Force researchers are surveying industry for companies able to develop sensor-fusion technology that enables unmanned aircraft to sense and avoid other aircraft while flying in controlled U.S. airspace. Continue reading
US to Send Ravens to Kenya
The Pentagon is seeking to send hand-launched UAS to Kenya as part of a $40 million-plus military aid package designed to help four African countries fight al Qaeda and al Shabaab militants, notably in Somalia, the Wall Street Journal reported. Continue reading
US Government Accountability Office Publishes Testimony on “Use in the National Airspace System and the Role of the Department of Homeland Security”
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) earlier reported that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) could not meet the aviation safety requirements developed for manned aircraft and posed several obstacles to operating safely and routinely in the national airspace system. Continue reading
UFO Over Malta
29-year-old Zfort Ertfay quickly interrupted a brisk walk on the Qawra sea-front in Malta when he spotted an unidentified flying object hovering over the horizon last week and took this photo with his mobile phone. Continue reading
D-Star Engineering Gets $5M IARPA Contract to Develop Silent VTOL UAS
Ducted-fan VTOL unmanned aircraft have a lot to offer – the ability to take off, land and fly in confined urban spaces being one. But quiet they are not, at least those that are big enough to carry a useful payload for a useful time. Continue reading
US Lawmakers Concerned About Spooking GPS on Civilian UAS
House lawmakers recently chastised the US Department of Homeland Security for failing to take charge of security aspects related to the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into civilian airspace. Continue reading
New Mexico State University Lands Support Role for DARPA Vulture Project
With a wingspan of 400 feet, the Vulture will be the largest unmanned aircraft ever flown in the world, but for New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Laboratory it’s only the latest in a long string of groundbreaking projects PSL has been working on for decades. Continue reading