Drone data is used in construction (3-D mapping, site surveying), agriculture (crop mapping), energy (solar and wind turbine monitoring), insurance (roof inspections), infrastructure (inspection), communications (damage...more
Amazon announced this week that its development of an air-traffic control system for its package delivery drones (and other commercial drones flying in the national airspace) has taken off –pun intended. This air-traffic...more
The commercial drone market is booming. While estimates certainly vary, many research firms say that the worldwide market value will rise from $2 billion today to over $10 million within the next 10 years. Similar to the GPS...more
By 2020, it is estimated that 7 million drones will be flying around the country delivering packages, taking photos, inspecting infrastructure or conducting search and rescue missions. However, before that happens, we will...more
A 27-year old resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jonathan Kolleh, was arrested and spent 14 hours in a holding cell last week for flying his drone in the vicinity of the National Football League (NFL) Draft. Kolleh began...more
5/15/2017
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Football ,
Motion Picture Industry ,
NFL ,
Popular ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Public Safety ,
Recklessness ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 4,836 workers were killed on the job in 2015—that means, if you break it down, that more than 90 workers lost their lives each week on jobsites. These...more
5/8/2017
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Emergency Response ,
Industrial Space ,
OSHA ,
Public Safety ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Injury
S.B. 299, introduced by Senator Eric Koch, has passed the Indiana General Assembly, and is on its way to the desk of Governor Eric Holcomb for his final consideration. S.B. 299 would create Class A misdemeanor offenses...more
5/8/2017
/ Airspace ,
Best Practices ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Harassment ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Sex Offenders ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with a group of universities, conducted a study to determine the risks associated with flying unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over people. The group of universities included...more
As we discussed in our previous post, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published over 200 airport facility maps last week to aid drone operators in safer operation and streamline the authorization process for...more
5/4/2017
/ Airports ,
Airspace ,
Aviation Industry ,
Best Practices ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Public Safety ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Police Foundation, a non-profit organization for policing across the United States, recently released a new infographic for law enforcement agencies seeking to establish a program for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS...more
On April 7, 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published a Notice to Airmen (Notice) that becomes effective on April 14, 2017. The Notice prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over 133...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to release a set of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) facility maps on April 27, 2017. These maps will help drone operators improve their Part 107 airspace authorization requests,...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Northrop Grumman, and Aviation & Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) recently announced a series of successful drone flights testing sense-and-avoid systems. One of the key...more
The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) voiced its opinion on the drone privacy legislation that was recently reintroduced by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey and U.S. Representative Peter Welch. The Drone Aircraft Privacy and...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a new report predicting tremendous growth over the next five years, in “nearly every aspect of air transportation” including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Specifically,...more
Last week, a Kentucky federal judge, U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell, threw out the lawsuit against William H. Merideth, also known as the ‘Drone Slayer’, a drone pilot who was sued for the downing of an unmanned...more
As the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS or as they are more commonly called, drones) continues to rapidly increase as technology continues to develop, more and more industries will utilize UAS in their day-to-day...more
Back in August 2016, when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced its final small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) rule (or Part 107) FAA administrator, Michael Huerta said, “Our focus is to make this as streamlined...more
On February 20, 2017, UPS and Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based battery-electric truck and drone developer, successfully conducted a test that launched a drone from the top of a UPS truck, which then autonomously delivered a...more
On February 23, 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an updated drone sighting report containing data covering February through September 2016. The report includes pilot, air traffic controller, law...more
If you were one of the 111 million viewers to watch Super Bowl LI, you may have seen the half-time show which featured not only a performance by Lady Gaga, but over 300 swarming drones performing an intricate light show....more
2/13/2017
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Football ,
Lady Gaga ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Sports ,
Super Bowl ,
Technology Sector ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The city of Orlando, Florida recently issued a new drone ordinance aiming to “promote hobbyists and commercial use of unmanned aircraft” while “balancing the paramount need to protect the well-being, tranquility and privacy...more
On January 27, 2017, police in Pacifica, California arrested a drone operator for allegedly flying a drone near the scene of a helicopter rescue, which effectively delayed the rescue operation. Police and fire rescue...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently made some Section 333 policy changes that may have slipped under some commercial pilots’ radars. Back in November, the FAA posted a document in the Federal Register that...more
The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has announced the formation of a Remote Pilots Council which aims to promote education and dialog between commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or...more