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
FAA Steps Up Research of Drone Countermeasures
The agency has signed cooperative research and development agreements to test counter-drone systems from several companies at selected airports.
Accidents
Piaggio UAS Prototype Crashes, Financial Picture Fuzzy
Crash of its P.1HH Hammerhead UAS on May 31 did not cause casualties or damage to maritime craft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
AeroVironment Unveils Tethered and Sub-Launched Drones
The Pentagon is evaluating the 'Tether Eye' tethered drone to combat terrorism. The Navy will equip submarines with tube-launched 'Blackwing.'
Charter & Fractional
Wyvern Assesses UAV Safety As Service Portfolio Grows
The aviation risk management and safety auditing firm provides accreditation standards to burgeoning new unmanned segment.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Guide Shows How Flight Departments Can Integrate UASs
Resource from NBAA provides background information on small unmanned aerial systsmes and a checklist for vetting sUAS service providers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Lancair Evolution Fills Drone Flying Role
Spectral Sky is adapting the Lancair Evolution kitbuilt composite airplane to manned and unmanned UAS operations.
Safety
Counter-UAS System on the Horizon
A system now under development could help protect rotorcraft operators from rogue drones.
Safety
Drones: Think First, Then Launch
One study shows the unmanned aircraft can be a distraction for ag operators.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Argus Completes Acquisition of UAS Safety Institute
USI is the official UAS training provider for Global Aerospace under its SM4 Safety Initiative.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Air Force Eyes Small UAS; Services Favor VTOL Capability
The Air Force will release a strategic plan for using smaller unmanned aircraft systems than it has traditionally operated.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
For Now, FAA Is Not Considering Airspace Changes for Drones
The low-altitude system NASA is developing through the UAS traffic management project will inform any airspace restructuring, the FAA says.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Amazon Principal Argues Case for 'Federated' ATC System
Amazon Prime Air's ambition is to deliver packages by small drones in an airspace system with multiple, overlapping controllers.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Textron Systems Progresses With RQ-7B Shadow V2 Upgrade
Nearly all of the 117 Shadow systems operated by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps are under contract for the V2 upgrade, Textron Systems says.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NASA, FAA Test Sites Conduct Largest Drone Management Test
All six FAA-sponsored unmanned aircraft system test ranges participated in the demonstration of NASA's UAS Traffic Management system.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Thales Sells Fulmar Mini-UAV System To Malaysia
It will fly from six new patrol vessels being built for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Regulations and Government
After Heathrow Incident, BACA Calls for Better UAV Regs
Association says that "reactive" regulations for UAVs is insufficient to keep drones from colliding with aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Indian Industry Group Presses for UAS Operating Rules
India's Ministry of Civil Aviation is expected to issue operating policy for unmanned aerial systems by year-end.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
France Settles on Sagem Patroller as its New Tactical Drone
Following a competition that also involved the Thales Watchkeeper system, the Patroller will replace the French army's current Sperwer drone.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Air Force, UAS Park Sign Joint-Use Agreement for Runway
The Grand Sky unmanned aircraft business park in North Dakota expects tenant General Atomics will begin training UAS pilots this summer.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Darpa Awards First-Phase Contracts for 'Gremlins' UAS Project
The program envisions launching "volleys" of small unmanned aircraft systems from a host aircraft, then retrieving them in mid-air.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Leading Drone Maker DJI Takes Aim at Competitor Over Patents
The dominant provider of small multi-rotor drones alleges patent infringement by Hong Kong-based Yuneec International, an upstart competitor.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Raises Small UAS Blanket Altitude Limit to 400 Feet
The move doubles the blanket altitude permitted for small unmanned aircraft that are not model aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Saab Joint Venture Opens Unmanned Aircraft Plant in Sweden
UMS Skeldar offers a product line of fixed- and rotary-wing small unmanned aircraft for military and civilian applications.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Unmanned Aircraft Training, Staffing Challenge U.S. Air Force
The service is taking steps to relieve the strain on its remotely piloted aircraft force, but faces difficulty maintaining operations tempo.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
U.S. Navy Readies Requirements for Unmanned MQ-25 Stingray
The new unmanned aerial refueling aircraft will have lesser capability than its UClass predecessor, but with growth potential.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Darpa Advances Indoor Capabilities of Quadcopter Drones
Quadcopters flying autonomously in GPS-denied environments could help in urban settings, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency asserts.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UAE Military Places Order for Unmanned Piaggio HammerHeads
The UAE Armed Forces plans to acquire eight of the unmanned derivatives of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti twin turboprop business aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Aurora Wins Darpa Contract to Build Novel Drone Demonstrator
The unmanned aircraft manufacturer plans to start flight-testing its 'LightningStrike' technology demonstrator in 2018.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
HAI Open to UAS
The organization welcomed UAS exhibitors to Heli-Expo for the first time, and introduced a new membership category to accommodate them.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Britain, France to Jointly Develop Future Combat Air System
The new drone builds on Britain's development of the Taranis unmanned combat air vehicle and the Dassault Aviation-led Neuron UCAV effort.
