Unauthorized drone flights are rising sharply in 2026, disrupting aerial firefighting operations and increasing enforcement efforts. By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill As the unusually severe wildfire season in the western U.S. continues unabated, the number of incidents of drone incursions interrupting aerial firefighting operations continues to rise. According to data … [Read more...] about Drone Incursions at Wildfires Surge as Aircraft Face More Groundings
UAS safety
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
Mind Over Drone: How Cognitive Load and Pilot Fatigue Are Reshaping Flight Safety
Part 1 of DRONELIFE's Exclusive Series: The Human Edge: People, Perception, and the Future of Drone Operations In this three-part DRONELIFE guest series, transportation and aviation experts Aloha Ley and Giovanni Carnaroli examine the human dimension of drone operations through the lens of current research and operational experience. Rather than focusing solely on technology, … [Read more...] about Mind Over Drone: How Cognitive Load and Pilot Fatigue Are Reshaping Flight Safety
FAA Data Shows Drone Sightings Near Airports Nearly Doubled in Second Quarter
After incidents, FAA warns against drones at airports By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The number of reported close encounters between drones and manned aircraft at U.S. airports almost doubled between the first and second quarters of 2026, according to FAA data. From April through June 2026, the FAA reported 601 drone sightings near airports, compared with only 320 … [Read more...] about FAA Data Shows Drone Sightings Near Airports Nearly Doubled in Second Quarter
FAA Signals Tougher Stance on Unauthorized Drone Operations
Agency issues fines, license suspensions, and revocations for unsafe and unauthorized drone operations The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took enforcement action against multiple drone operators in 2025 for unsafe and unauthorized flights. The announcement closely follows recent FAA actions to expand flight restrictions through two new broad NOTAMs, including one that … [Read more...] about FAA Signals Tougher Stance on Unauthorized Drone Operations
