Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) this week introduced legislation to support the research and development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technologies at the nation’s UAS test sites. Continue reading
Category Archives: Regulatory Matters
Larger Drones to Fly 50-Mile New York Drone Corridor
Oneida County’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome recently received a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight authority. Continue reading
FAA Grants Textron Special Airworthiness Certificate to Operate Aerosonde UAS in Civil Operations
Textron Systems Corporation announced that it has been issued a special airworthiness certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct civil unmanned aircraft operations at its Unmanned Systems Service and Support Center located in Blackstone, Virginia, adjacent to the Allen C. Perkinson Blackstone Army Airfield (KBKT). Continue reading
FAA Issues Special UAS Waiver to Alaska
Alaska is the first state to be able to grant permission for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to operate and test with the aim of securing certification for national airspace flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the waiver last week, which was requested by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in late 2020. Continue reading
DELAIR UX11 Gets EU Class C6 Marking for BVLOS Flights without Specific Authorization
French drone manufacturer DELAIR has announced the release of the UX11 with C6 class marking, allowing BVLOS missions throughout Europe without specific authorization within the framework of the EASA European standard scenario STS-02. Continue reading
UAS Operators: Be Aware
The Current Situation
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as “drones”, embody the technological progress made in several key technology areas, and the constantly growing number of their potential applications holds the promise of supplying substantial societal benefits. The design, production, and the use of UAS, and the associated ecosystem, represent a sector with significant economic value and have the potential to create a wide variety of jobs in all 27 European Union (EU) Member States. Continue reading
New York Power Authority Receives FAA Waiver Allowing Automated Drone Operations
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has received its first federal approval to fly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the pilot in command. In a significant step forward, this Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver enables NYPA to conduct fully remote drone operations such as asset and vegetative management inspections at its Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project in Schoharie County. Continue reading
Senators Introduce Legislation to Support Integration of Drones into Airspace
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Increasing Competitiveness for American Drones Act of 2023, comprehensive legislation to streamline the approvals process for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights and clear the way for drones to be used for commercial transport of goods across the country – making sure that the U.S. remains competitive globally in a growing industry increasingly dominated by competitors like China. Continue reading