Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Insurer State Farm has been granted the first FAA national UAS waiver to conduct operations over people (OOP) or beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS). The waiver runs through November 2022. Previously the company had been granted limited-duration waivers in geographic-specific areas in the aftermath of hurricanes. The insurer uses UAS to assess property damage in areas where access can be limited due to water, debris,&nbsp;and damage to infrastructure.

 


For nearly two years, State Farm has been working with the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech on drone safety case research. In May 2018, the Commonwealth of Virginia was selected as one of 10 teams to participate in the FAA Integration Pilot Program (IPP). As a member of the Virginia IPP team, the insurer has worked with MAAP to assess a wide range of potential risks and strategies for reducing them.

 


Test flights used the senseFly eBee Classic fixed-wing drone for longer distance damage-assessment missions. State Farm used the data from these flights to conduct OOP and BVLOS flights in states affected by hurricanes Florence and Michael last year. Data from those flights was in turn used to obtain the national waiver.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

State Farm Obtains First National Drone BVLOS Waiver

The FAA has granted insurer State Farm the first national waiver for flights over people and beyond the pilot's visual line of sight. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

U.S. company says it will accelerate development of the 1,400-pound payload vehicle 

Piasecki Acquires Kaman's Kargo UAV Program

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Helius is Ascent Aerosystems’ first sub-250g coaxial UAV

Robinson-owned Drone Maker Debuts ‘Helius’ Nano UAV

Unspecified fixed-wing UAS will feature SiCore battery cells

Amprius Inks $15 Million Battery Deal with Drone Maker

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Air traffic control voice relay tests will evaluate sound quality and latency

FAA Contracts Aura to Test Uncrewed Aircraft Integration

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Ascendance and Delair partner on hybrid UAV for French DGA 

Ascendance's Hybrid Propulsion System To Power French Drones

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Pilot " is “deeply remorseful for his mistake”

Drone Pilot Who Crashed into CL-415 Waterbomber Pleads Guilty

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Piasecki Acquires Kaman's Kargo UAV Program

U.S. company says it will accelerate development of the 1,400-pound payload vehicle

Robinson-owned Drone Maker Debuts ‘Helius’ Nano UAV

Helius is Ascent Aerosystems’ first sub-250g coaxial UAV

Amprius Inks $15 Million Battery Deal with Drone Maker

Unspecified fixed-wing UAS will feature SiCore battery cells

FAA Contracts Aura to Test Uncrewed Aircraft Integration

Air traffic control voice relay tests will evaluate sound quality and latency

Ascendance's Hybrid Propulsion System To Power French Drones

Ascendance and Delair partner on hybrid UAV for French DGA

Drone Pilot Who Crashed into CL-415 Waterbomber Pleads Guilty

Pilot " is “deeply remorseful for his mistake”

Canadian Airline Nolinor Orders Kona Cargo Freighters

The charter operator agreed to buy multiple Kona production slots from Natilus

Pipistrel Flies Nuuva V300 Multi-role Drone for the First Time

Remotely monitored autonomous aircraft will have a payload of 600 pounds and range of 300 nm

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