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
U.S. Navy Awards Contracts to Refine MQ-25 Stingray Designs
Manufacturers vying to provide the Navy's new carrier-launched unmanned refueling aircraft expect a request for proposals this summer.
Regulations and Government
DOT IG Auditing FAA Drone Operation Waivers
Audit objectives will be to assess FAA’s processes for granting waivers, and its risk-based oversight of UAS operators with waivers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Saudi Arabia Buying and Building Chinese Armed Drones
Big new deals follow previous imports by the Kingdom; other countries also buying Chinese UCAVs to avoid Western export restrictions.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA, Pentagon Prohibit Drone Flights Over U.S. Military Sites
The FAA action to prevent drone flights over 133 military facilities is the first time it has instituded drone-specific airspace restrictions.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Navy, Northrop Grumman Near Delivery of Baseline Triton
The Navy's baseline MQ-4C Triton was supposed to come with sense-and-avoid radar, but that capability has been postponed to a 2024 upgrade.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
General Atomics, Dynetics Advance 'Gremlins' UAS Concepts
Under the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program, the companies will advance their concepts to preliminary design stage.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA, Industry Work To Automate Drone Airspace Authorizations
The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability will automate the FAA process of granting authorizations using third-party providers.
Aircraft
Singapore Reveals Modifications to IAI Heron Systems
The MALE UAV has achieved full operating capability after local enhancements to communications and training systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drones Hover onto Leaderboard at NBAA Finance Conference
Drones are being used as tools by large insurance companies, but should their operators join the flight department?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Transport Canada Starts Regulating Recreational Drones
The Interim Order Respecting the Use of Model Aircraft applies to recreational drones weighing from a half a pound to 77 pounds.
Maintenance and Modifications
Robotic Skies and uAvionix Sign Mx Partnership
Members of the Robotic Skies drone service network will provide maintenance services to uAvionix customers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Gray Eagle Stationing in South Korea Long Planned, Says U.S.
U.S. Forces Korea announced that the Army has started the process of permanently stationing MQ-1C Gray Eagles at Kunsan Air Base.
Aircraft
Russian UAVs Find Combat Missions over Syria
Systems of Israeli origin are being supplanted by domestically-produced versions but not yet any UCAVs.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Air Force Evaluates Quadcopter for Aircraft Inspections
The emerging technologies unit at Edwards Air Force Base is also considering using drones to calibrate antennas, inspect roofs and airfields.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Northrop Grumman Tests MS-177 Sensor on Global Hawk
The UTC Aerospace multi-spectral, long-range imaging sensor joins the portfolio of sensor options the RQ-4B Global Hawk offers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Global Aerospace Eases UAV Insurance Shopping
The company's new portal will help simplify insurance purchasing for the growing segment of commercial unmanned vehicle operators.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
AIN Blog: Mark Another Milestone For Mainstreaming Drones
The winning raffle envelope at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit this year was delivered by a quadcopter.
Aircraft
GA-ASI Goes Head-to-head with IAI for Australian UAS Contract
The Reaper and the Heron TP are competing to meet the Project AIR 7003 requirement.
Regulations and Government
Harris Aims To Leverage ADS-B for UAS Ops in U.S. NAS
Availability of low-cost, small and lightweight ADS-B units might be more suitable and economical to safely separate unmanned aircraft from other traffic.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
China's AVIC Achieves First Flight of Wing-Loong II UAV
Coincident with the maiden flight, Xinhua News Agency said an unnamed customer has placed a large order for the new generation drone.
Training and Workforce
NBAA OKs Unmanned Aircraft Course for PDP, CAM Programs
According to USI, this is the only NBAA PDP-approved offering on unmanned aviation.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Global Aero Launches Online Insurance Portal for UAVs
Online portal allows drone owners and operators to purchase an annual insurance policy online and pay securely via credit card.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Royal Australian Navy Orders Unmanned Schiebel Camcopter
The service earlier evaluated the 243-pound helicopter for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance as well as forward observer missions.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA, SkyPan Settle Charges of Alleged Improper Drone Flights
The Chicago aerial photography company will pay a civil penalty of $200,000, the largest fine to date for unmanned aircraft systems.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Europe Advances Small Drone Regulations, 'U-Space' System
The branches of the European Union government plan to complete negotiations on amending the EASA Basic Regulation to include drones.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Pentagon Demonstrates 'Swarming' of Micro Drones
The exercise at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in October was one of the largest thus far using teams of small autonomous drones.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Small Unmanned Aircraft Sets 56-Hour Flight Record
The Vanilla Aircraft VA001 landed with more than half of its JP-8 fuel still available for a longer mission.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NASA Drives Vision of Air Traffic Management for Drones
The NASA-led UAS Traffic Management (UTM) research effort is shaping the rules and capabilities of this coming low-altitude ecosystem.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA’s National Drone Registry Marks First Anniversary
Registration is required for drones weighing 250 grams to 55 pounds.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Fruity Chutes Can Prevent Drone Destruction
Expensive drones can be rescued from harm by parachute recovery systems.
