Regulatory Matters
US Deputy Defence Secretary William Lynn has launched a review of the Pentagon's unmanned aircraft programmes to determine whether their requirements to operate in the national airspace are clearly defined and consistent with the department's new airspace integration plan. In an April 29 memo, Lynn directs
Testing
The most intense use of the US Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen Integration and Evaluation Capability (NIEC) to date has been by the UAS community, both within the FAA and the broader government and industry community. The NIEC was created so that neither next-generation air transport system's
Non-Military & Commercial UAS
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to Mississippi State University for Stark Aerospace to fly the Heron UAS from Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTRA) in Columbus, Mississippi . Mississippi State University (MSU) is the public sponsor of the COA which specifically allows for the flight of
Regulatory Matters
Last Friday, the US House of Representatives passed the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 by a vote of 223 to 196. The bill includes important passages about integrating unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System (civil airspace). The US Senate passed their version of an
Regulatory Matters
Doug Davis is currently Director, Global UAS Strategic Initiatives at New Mexico State University, after spending almost 25 years with the FAA. He is widely known and respected for his pioneering work in developing the vision for how UAS will operate in the National Airspace System. We asked Doug for
Regulatory Matters
ICAO has notified UVS International that it would like to continue the partnership established for the organisation of the Global Air Traffic Management Forum, which included ATCA, CANSO, EUROCONTROL, IATA, FAA, Department of Defense (USA), Ministry of Transport (Germany), NATO, and UVS International, for the organisation/conduct of a regional
Regulatory Matters
The University of Newcastle, Australia and Boeing Research and Technology Australia have launched a five-year project to develop a tool to evaluate whether unmanned aircraft meet the same levels of safety as piloted aircraft for particular operations. The team is developing a tool to allow aviation authorities to assess and
Regulatory Matters
As the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act, HR 658, makes its way through the US House of Representatives, it is provoking concern amongst model aircraft enthusiasts who fear that government regulators can’t make the difference between model aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems. This story that appeared last week in
Regulatory Matters
In anticipation of a complete review of the conditions of integrating non-military UAS into the US civilian airspace (known as the National Airspace System in the US) the FAA has issued new interim guidelines for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems. Notice number N JO 7210.766 on Air Traffic
Regulatory Matters
ICAO Circular 328, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) – ISBN 978-92-9231-751-5 – has now been published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The purpose of this circular is to: 1. Apprise States of the emerging ICAO perspective on the integration of UAS into non-segregated airspace and at aerodromes 2. Consider the fundamental
Regulatory Matters
The Australian Government Civil Aviation Safety Authority make clear their definition of a UAS Operator, and simplfy the process for obtaining a licence. "You are a UAS Operator if you conduct air work - this includes commercial tasks (hire and reward), demonstrations, training, R&D, flying for company
Non-Military & Commercial UAS
Mesa County Sheriff (Colorado, USA) is the first US Public Safety Agency to receive an FAA Certificate of Authorization to operate the Draganflyer X6 helicopter for law enforcement use over a 3,300 square mile area. In the past, the Sheriff’s office was required to contact the FAA and