By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Unauthorized drones flying in restricted airspace continue to cause interference with aerial firefighting operations at the scenes of wildfires across the country. In a recent example of this disturbing trend, unauthorized drone flights prompted aircraft engaged in firefighting at the scene of the Timber Fire in the Big Sur region of … [Read more...] about Unauthorized Drones Divert Firefighting Aircraft at California’s Timber Fire
Drone Safety
“If You Fly, We Can’t”: Drone Incursions Still Disrupt Wildfire Response Across the West
Five unauthorized drone flights over Oregon’s Wrights Spring Fire grounded firefighting aircraft, highlighting a growing safety problem during wildfire operations. By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill As massive wildfires continue to ravage vast areas of the West and northwestern U.S., the problem of unauthorized drones flying in disaster areas continues to hamper aerial … [Read more...] about “If You Fly, We Can’t”: Drone Incursions Still Disrupt Wildfire Response Across the West
Inside the Counter-UAS Response to Drone Flights Over Spokane Wildfires
FBI and local officials describe how a multi-agency task force detected dozens of unauthorized drones, located pilots and worked to keep firefighting aircraft flying by DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Federal and local officials are decrying the overflights of drones over a series of wildfires in eastern Washington state, which caused a temporary grounding of … [Read more...] about Inside the Counter-UAS Response to Drone Flights Over Spokane Wildfires
Building Safer Drone Operations: Managing Fatigue, Workload, and Human Performance
Part 3 of DRONELIFE’s Exclusive Series: The Human Edge: People, Perception, and the Future of Drone Operations Commercial drone operations continue to expand in scale and complexity, placing new demands on both technology and the people who manage it. As enterprise fleets grow and automation becomes more capable, improving safety increasingly depends on designing systems that … [Read more...] about Building Safer Drone Operations: Managing Fatigue, Workload, and Human Performance
Beyond the Rule: Preparing for the Operational Reality of BVLOS
What will operators actually need to do differently under Part 108? The FAA's proposed Part 108 rule has generated significant excitement across the commercial drone industry. By creating a standardized regulatory framework for many beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, the proposal could reduce reliance on today's case-by-case waiver process and make routine BVLOS … [Read more...] about Beyond the Rule: Preparing for the Operational Reality of BVLOS








