Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.
Rotorcraft
Bell Brings Nexus eVTOL to NBAA-BACE
Bell will display a mockup of its Nexus eVTOL urban air mobility vehicle at this year's NBAA-BACE
Maintenance and Modifications
AAR Employing Drones for Aircraft Inspections
AAR is assessing the drone technology under a 12-month agreement with Donecle, a French specialist in automated aircraft inspections.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Ford Patents 'Vehicle-integrated Drone'
Ford's vehicle-launched drone is just one of several UAV technologies the company is pursuing.
Aircraft
ADEX 2019: Raytheon and Korean Air Partner for ISTAR
Korean Air and Raytheon are proposing to modify the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet to meet a RoKAF requirement.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Senator Seeks To Prohibit Low-altitude Drone Flights
Proposed Senate legislation challenges FAA authority to regulate unmanned aircraft operations below 200 feet all.
Aircraft
EHang Partners With Vodafone for eVTOL Connectivity
Telecommunications group Vodafone will provide SIM cards to support communications for EHang's family of Autonomous Aerial Vehicles.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Commercial Drone Deliveries Begin in the U.S.
Google's Wing unit began commercial drone deliveries last week in Virginia.
Aircraft
Volocopter Unveils VoloPort eVTOL Base in Singapore
Volocopter and its partner Skyports have unveiled the first full-scale VoloPort concept in Singapore, where they hope to launch eVTOL air taxi flights.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Bizav Embracing UAM Concepts, but Long Road Still Ahead
NBAA released a report highlighting the benefits of UAM for business aviation, while experts debate the future of the UAM market.
Aircraft
Savion Plans Two-Place, Remotely Piloted Jet
Proposed Savion jet will use LNG power, be flown “Just like an Air Force drone,” and can enter service in about four years, start-up company said.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Safety To Be Highlighted in Week-long Event
National Drone Safety Awareness Week begins Monday.
Aircraft
Volocopter Launches VoloDrone eVTOL Freight Aircraft
Volocopter has added standardized rail attachment system to its VoloCity eVTOL aircraft to transform it into the new VoloDrone freight-carrying model.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
GE Teams On Hybrid SuperVolo UAV
The SuperVolo UAV has an endurance of up to six hours.
Regulations and Government
FAA Announces More Drone Restrictions
The FAA announced drone flight restrictions over an additional 60 federal facilities.
Rotorcraft
Rogue Drones Impede California Firefighters
Illegal drone flights California forced firefighting helicopters to stand down.
Regulations and Government
U.S. Security Concerns Mount Over Chinese Drones
House and Senate bills would ban use of Chinese drones.
Aircraft
Airbus Unveils LOUT Stealth Drone Testbed
Airbus has been working in secrecy for more than a decade on a very low observable stealth testbed intended to inform programs such as FCAS.
Regulations and Government
New Urban Air Mobility Group Hopes To Help Shape Future Policy
The Community Air Mobility Initiative aims to work directly with local and state officials as well as focus on public education.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UPS Drones Making Pharmacy Deliveries
UPS Forward Flight is delivering prescriptions from a CVS pharmacy in North Carolina.
Safety
Altitude Angel Unveils Drone 'Tactical Deconfliction'
Altitude Angel's tactical deconfliction service automatically alerts drones to aircraft and airspace conflicts.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Sensyn Adds Drone Tower Scan To Flight Core
The tower scan function in Sensyn's Flight Core is part of the company's goal of turning drones into flying robots.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Volocopter, John Deere Partner On Large Ag Drone
The agricultural VoloDrone will be able to spray 15 acres per hour.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Workhorse Unloading SureFly eVTOL Program to Moog
Electric vehicle maker Workhorse is selling the assets of its SureFly aviation division to Moog for $4 million.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
BVLOS Approval For NY UAS Test Site
New York's UAS test site in Rome has been granted FAA beyond visual line of sight operations approval.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Lockheed Laser Lances Drones
Lockheed Martin's Athena anti-drone laser successfully defeated multiple targets during a recent USAF demonstration.
Safety
Study: Encroaching Drones Usually Not Seen by Pilots
Pilots approaching a runway usually can’t see small unmanned aircraft systems encroaching on their airspace, an academic study says.
Rotorcraft
Airbus's VSR700 Rotary-wing UAV Takes Flight
The VSR700 unmanned helicopter is intended to serve onboard vessels of the French navy to extend their surveillance horizon
Regulations and Government
GAO Recommends FAA Improve UAS Oversight
The FAA’s compliance and enforcement approach for drones could benefit from improved communication and data, according to a GAO report.
Airports
House GOP Leaders Oppose DHS-operated C-UAS at Airports
U.S. Reps. Graves and Rogers say DHS's ability to operate C-UAS is "sorely lacking."
Training and Workforce
Cherokees Tap FlightSafety for UAS Training
Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs (CNSP) has selected FlightSafety International (FSI) to provide unmanned systems training.
