Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
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.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Dubai Airport Flights Delayed by 'Irresponsible' Drone Use
Authorities suspended operations at Dubai International Airport for nearly an hour when recreational users flew drones in the terminal airspace.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Raytheon Acquires Manufacturer of Small, Tactical Drones
Raytheon acquired Sensitel, manufacturer of the Silver Fox, Manta and Coyote small unmanned aircraft systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
EBACE 2015 To Feature Unmanned Aircraft Zone
The UAS zone will provide a venue for exhibitors to do live demonstrations of their products in a 12m-by-12m netted pavilion.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Unveils Long-awaited Small Drone Draft Regulation
The FAA announced its highly anticipated and long-overdue notice of proposed rulemaking for commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
General Atomics 'Due Regard' Radar Ready for Evaluation
General Atomics said it has flown the first fully functional air-to-air collision avoidance radar for unmanned aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Export Policy Allows Wider Unmanned Aircraft Sales
The U.S. State Department announced a new export policy that provides for the sale of U.S.-made military and commercial drones overseas.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NoFlyZone Offers Drone Privacy Zones for Homeowners
NoFlyZone data will be used in geo-fencing software that restricts where drones can fly.
Regulations and Government
FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Proposal Published
Proposal expected to draw a considerable number of comments from business supporters of UAS, as well as aviation safety advocates.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
HammerHead Takes Flight, Gains First Order
The Italian Air Force has placed an order for the UAV conversion of the Piaggio Avanti.
Safety
Transportation Trades Group Speaks Out on Drone Safety
Union group wants to see guarantees of system safety.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Ops Procedures Offered, but Only to a Select Few
The guidelines outlines general operating procedures for a UAS. However, the manual is available only to qualified Global Aerospace customers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Ops Procedures Offered, but Only to a Select Few
The guidelines outlines general operating procedures for a UAS. However, the manual is available only to qualified Global Aerospace customers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Commerce Agency Seeks Comment on Drone Privacy Policy
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration will begin a 'multi-stakeholder' process to develop drone privacy standards.
Safety
Europe Calls for Safer Drone Integration
Transport commissioner wants to ensure there are repercussions for illegal or unsafe drone use.
Rotorcraft
Helicopter Operators See Drones as a Business Opportunity
Operations of the unmanned aircraft are likely to proliferate, and their integration needs to be done right, says HAI president Matt Zuccaro.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
EASA Issues Regulatory Approach for Drones in Europe
The European Aviation Safety Agency has issued a draft regulatory framework that specifies three categories of commercial drone operations.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Grants Amazon Experimental 'Ticket' for Drone Testing
Online retailer Amazon obtained an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate to begin testing an unmanned aircraft for package deliveries.
Regulations and Government
FAA 'Interim Policy' Speeds UAS Flight Authorizations
Grants operators a certificate of authorization for UAS flights at or below 200 feet anywhere in the country except in restricted airspace or major cities.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
AeroVironment, Northrop Grumman Develop Naval Drones
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected the two contractors for the second phase of its TERN program.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
IAI Reports Brazilian Defense Initiatives
Israeli company is supplying UAS and radar technology via local partners
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Amazon Wins Exemption From FAA to Test Fly Small Drone
Amazon petitioned the FAA last July to conduct R&D of its planned drone delivery service under Section 333 of the FAA reauthorization act.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Navy Restarts Effort To Fit 'Due Regard' Radar on Triton
The U.S. Navy has restarted the development of a sense-and-avoid radar system for the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
X-47B Accomplishes First Unmanned Aerial Refueling Mission
The Northrop Grumman-built unmanned combat demonstrator will be retired now that it has completed its final test objective.
Aircraft
EU Leaders Mull Military Action To Destroy People-Smuggling Vessels
Possible roles for UAVs considered after current patrol and rescue efforts deemed inadequate.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Groups Comment on FAA's Small UAS Draft Regulation
The comment deadline for the FAA's small unmanned aircraft systems notice of proposed rulemaking arrived on April 24.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Website: FAA Receives 4,000-Plus Comments to Drone Rule
The website Regulations.gov indicates that 4,499 responses were received for the small unmanned aircraft systems draft rulemaking
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Seeks Standards for Beyond Line-of-Sight Drone Flights
The agency has asked standards organization ASTM to develop standards for beyond visual line-of-sight operations and flights over people.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Coming U.S. Policy Change Will Free Small Drone Exports
The Commerce Department is expected to amend its regulations covering the export to foreign countries of small commercial unmanned aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA, Industry Partners Announce 'Pathfinder' Drone Research
The FAA, cable network CNN, BNSF Railway and PrecisionHawk will investigate beyond line-of-sight and other drone operations.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
AeroVironment Seeks To Grow 'Switchblade' Missile Business
The supplier of small unmanned aircraft systems to the U.S. military is developing new variants of its Switchblade expendable flying missile.
