Wednesday morning, FAA administrator Michael Huerta addressed the attendees of AUVSI's Unmanned Systems conference in Atlanta. Mr Huerta's big announcement was the FAA's new initiative to research and, eventually, authorize beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) flights for drones. BLOS flights have always been a necessary part of the evolution of drones and the UAV plans of companies … [Read more...] about Details and Tweets From the FAA’s BLOS Announcement at Unmanned Systems Expo 2015
AUVSI
Lobbyists Battle Quietly Over Drone Exemptions
Now that the FAA’s has adopted a fast-track process for approving some UAVs for commercial use, the number of firms obtaining waivers under Section 333 is nudging towards 300. Amid the reams of paper (or rather digital paper) involved in such bureaucratic fervor lies a quiet, yet intrepid battle among groups representing several interests. You see, before granting a Section … [Read more...] about Lobbyists Battle Quietly Over Drone Exemptions
Corporate America’s Unleash-the-Drones Plea Puts the Heat on FAA
(Source: Bloomberg.com) As U.S. regulators study how to govern commercial drones, corporate America is plunging ahead on using unmanned aircraft in a bid to speed the process and win concessions on proposed restrictions. Large companies including American International Group Inc., Chevron Corp. and BNSF Railway Co. are planning flight trials to inspect storm damage, … [Read more...] about Corporate America’s Unleash-the-Drones Plea Puts the Heat on FAA
Drone Hobbyists Have Long History Of Safe, Responsible Flying
(Source: The Hill) Drones are everywhere – flying in TV ads, helping film the latest Hollywood blockbusters, inspecting bridges and pipelines, and, of course, they’re a hot topic in Washington. As policymakers work to manage this technology, they should be careful not to put a longstanding, educational and family oriented hobby at risk. Hobbyists have flown model aircraft … [Read more...] about Drone Hobbyists Have Long History Of Safe, Responsible Flying
Amazon Gets FAA Nod to Test Delivery UAVs
After an eight-months waiting game, retail giant Amazon has cleared the first hurdle to launch its much-heralded drone delivery service. On March 19, the FAA granted Amazon an experimental airworthiness certificate to the company’s logistics division. The certificate allows Amazon to fly drones for development and crew training. The retailer first applied in July after … [Read more...] about Amazon Gets FAA Nod to Test Delivery UAVs
