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.
Regulations and Government
FAA Expands LAANC Drone Program
FAA's LAANC expands to four major airports, seven more service providers.
Safety
Errant Drone Pilot Fined $20,000
Reuben Burciaga was fined $20,000 by the FAA after his out-of-control drone landed next to Las Vegas runway.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
AIA Urges Capitol Hill To Finish Funding, Ex-Im Bills
AiA's Fanning said the workforce and economy can’t afford the prospect of continued stopgap funding or another government shutdown.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
China Shows Armed Rotary-wing UAS
The U8EW UAS can be employed for a range of battlefield missions, including reconnaissance and precision attack.
Aircraft
Boeing Makes Progress on NeXt Big Things
Three electric aircraft projects—the Passenger Air Vehicle, Cargo Air Vehicle, and Odysseus UAV—are gaining momentum at Boeing's NeXt unit.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Skydweller Launches with Leonardo Investment
With Leonardo 's assistance, Skydweller Aero is developing an unmanned long-endurance solar-powered platform based on the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft.
Environment
Falcon Plans Urban Mobility Terminal for Expo 2020
The special-purpose terminal designed by Falcon Aviation is suited to all rotorcraft types, but especially the AW609 Tiltrotor.
Training and Workforce
Cherokees Tap FlightSafety for UAS Training
Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs (CNSP) has selected FlightSafety International (FSI) to provide unmanned systems training.
Airports
House GOP Leaders Oppose DHS-operated C-UAS at Airports
U.S. Reps. Graves and Rogers say DHS's ability to operate C-UAS is "sorely lacking."
Rotorcraft
Airbus's VSR700 Rotary-wing UAV Takes Flight
The VSR700 unmanned helicopter is intended to serve onboard vessels of the French navy to extend their surveillance horizon
Regulations and Government
GAO Recommends FAA Improve UAS Oversight
The FAA’s compliance and enforcement approach for drones could benefit from improved communication and data, according to a GAO report.
Safety
Study: Encroaching Drones Usually Not Seen by Pilots
Pilots approaching a runway usually can’t see small unmanned aircraft systems encroaching on their airspace, an academic study says.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Lockheed Laser Lances Drones
Lockheed Martin's Athena anti-drone laser successfully defeated multiple targets during a recent USAF demonstration.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
BVLOS Approval For NY UAS Test Site
New York's UAS test site in Rome has been granted FAA beyond visual line of sight operations approval.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Volocopter, John Deere Partner On Large Ag Drone
The agricultural VoloDrone will be able to spray 15 acres per hour.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Workhorse Unloading SureFly eVTOL Program to Moog
Electric vehicle maker Workhorse is selling the assets of its SureFly aviation division to Moog for $4 million.
Regulations and Government
New Urban Air Mobility Group Hopes To Help Shape Future Policy
The Community Air Mobility Initiative aims to work directly with local and state officials as well as focus on public education.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Sensyn Adds Drone Tower Scan To Flight Core
The tower scan function in Sensyn's Flight Core is part of the company's goal of turning drones into flying robots.
Aircraft
Airbus Unveils LOUT Stealth Drone Testbed
Airbus has been working in secrecy for more than a decade on a very low observable stealth testbed intended to inform programs such as FCAS.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UPS Drones Making Pharmacy Deliveries
UPS Forward Flight is delivering prescriptions from a CVS pharmacy in North Carolina.
Safety
Altitude Angel Unveils Drone 'Tactical Deconfliction'
Altitude Angel's tactical deconfliction service automatically alerts drones to aircraft and airspace conflicts.
Regulations and Government
U.S. Security Concerns Mount Over Chinese Drones
House and Senate bills would ban use of Chinese drones.
Rotorcraft
Rogue Drones Impede California Firefighters
Illegal drone flights California forced firefighting helicopters to stand down.
Aircraft
Volocopter Launches VoloDrone eVTOL Freight Aircraft
Volocopter has added standardized rail attachment system to its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft to transform it into the new VoloDrone freight-carrying model.
Regulations and Government
FAA Announces More Drone Restrictions
The FAA announced drone flight restrictions over an additional 60 federal facilities.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GE Teams On Hybrid SuperVolo UAV
The SuperVolo UAV has an endurance of up to six hours.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Safety To Be Highlighted in Week-long Event
National Drone Safety Awareness Week begins Monday.
Aircraft
Savion Plans Two-Place, Remotely Piloted Jet
Proposed Savion jet will use LNG power, be flown “Just like an Air Force drone,” and can enter service in about four years, start-up company said.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bizav Embracing UAM Concepts, but Long Road Still Ahead
NBAA released a report highlighting the benefits of UAM for business aviation, while experts debate the future of the UAM market.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Commercial Drone Deliveries Begin in the U.S.
Google's Wing unit began commercial drone deliveries last week in Virginia.
