Category Archives: Regulatory Matters

Aurora’s OPA UH-1H Gets FAA Airworthiness Certificate

Aurora Flight Sciences announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate to Aurora’s newest optionally-piloted aircraft, a UH-1H helicopter. The latest development in the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Autonomous Aerial Cargo/Utility System (AACUS) program, Aurora has added a complete digital flight control system to create the “Autonomy-enabled UH-1,” or AEH-1. Continue reading

President Trump and Secretary Chao Announce Drone Integration Pilot Program

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) looks at a drone with Kespry CEO George Mathew (R) during an event highlighting emerging technologies, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., June 22, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

President Donald J. Trump directed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao to launch an initiative to safely test and validate advanced operations for drones in partnership with state and local governments in select jurisdictions. Continue reading

CNN Gets First Part 107 Waiver for Operations Over People

CNN has received a first-of-its-kind Part 107 waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly a small unmanned aircraft system (UAS) over people.  This approval represents an industry milestone, as this new waiver for the first time will enable real-world UAS operations over people.   Continue reading

Swedish Drone Ban Lifted

In the autumn of 2016, the Swedish Supreme Administrative Court ruled that a camera mounted on a drone is considered a CCTV camera for purposes of the Swedish Camera Surveillance Act (2013:460). The judgment meant that using a drone equipped with a camera, where the camera will be directed at a place to which the public has access, requires a license from the County Administrative Board. Continue reading

Silent Falcon Solar UAS Qualified Compliant in Canada

Silent Falcon UAS Technologies solar electric, fixed wing, long endurance, long range Unmanned Aircraft System has been added to Transport Canada’s list of “Compliant Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)”, a distinction allowing Silent Falcon to issue to its Canadian customers  seeking to become Compliant UAV Operators in Canada,  Statements of Conformity. Continue reading

FAA Bans Drones over Statue of Liberty and Other Landmarks

At the request of U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration is using its existing authority under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 99.7 – “Special Security Instructions” – to address concerns about unauthorized drone operations over 10 Department of the Interior (DOI) sites, including the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. Continue reading