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.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Boeing Autonomous eVTOL Makes First Flight
Boeing NeXT's fully autonomous electric vertical takeoff and landing prototype aircraft made its first flight January 22nd.
Regulations and Government
Canada To Require Drone Registration, Pilot License
Transport Canada has issued new rules require that drone pilots to register their aircraft and obtain a pilot certificate by June 1.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Employees Looted Drone Maker DJI in $150M Fraud
World's largest maker of recreational drones promises tighter controls in wake of financial scandal.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Plans To Kill Mandatory Waivers For Drone Flying At Night, Over People
Part 107 UAS operators would be allowed to fly at night and over people under new FAA plan.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
State Farm Obtains First National Drone BVLOS Waiver
The FAA has granted insurer State Farm the first national waiver for flights over people and beyond the pilot's visual line of sight.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Hydrogen UAS Demonstrates Superior Endurance
Fuel-cell powered UAS has more than five times the range of battery-powered aircraft.
Aircraft
Heathrow Flights Resume After Drone Sighting
Rogue drone activity comes one day after the UK announces new measures to protect civil aviation from drones.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Neuron Passes 150-flight Milestone
The Neuron UCAV technology demonstrator has now flown more than 150 times. Recent trials have been undertaken against Spanish Typhoon fighters.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Leonardo To Deliver IRST Systems for Far East UAV Integration
Leonardo has developed considerable expertise in the field of infrared search and track systems for fighters, which is now being extended to UAVs
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Textron Readies Hybrid Aerosonde Kit Ahead of At-sea Testing
Textron has developed a kit that rapidly turns its Aerosonde UAV into a vertical take-off and landing vehicle that can operate from small vessels
Airlines
Gatwick Airport Reopens after Drones Halted all Traffic
Police and military remain on site deploying drone mitigating measures
Rotorcraft
Airbus Makes First Unmanned Flight in VSR700 Helicopter
The autonomous, unmanned "tactical vehicle" is based on the Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2 and fitted with a diesel engine.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
eVTOL: The $30 Billion Lottery
Many questions remain about the scope and viability of the emerging vertical takeoff and landing aircraft market.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Company Plans To Rent Self-piloted eVTOLs
Lift plans to rent out eVTOLs under the Part 103 powered ultralight rules beginning next year.
Training and Workforce
University Gets FAA BVLOS Waiver for UAS Courses
Kansas State Polytechnic incorporates flying beyond visual line of sight into UAS curriculum.
Safety
AirMap Provides Real-time Geofencing UAS Mobile App
Free feature for DJI drone pilots alerts of unsafe airspace, aircraft conflicts.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NYPD Launches Drone Force
New York's police department will operate a fleet of 14 drones.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
EASA Opens Drone Conference
Amsterdam conference is addressing the future of drones in Europe.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Drone Flies Human Kidney
A new study concludes that drones can transport organs faster and cheaper than manned aircraft.
Rotorcraft
Jetcopter Unveils Seven-seat VTOL Design
German firm finalizes design for roadworthy $350,000 VTOL.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
FAA Processes More than 50,000 LAANC Drone Applications
The number of LAANC applications far exceeds FAA exceptions.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Australia Selects Reaper for Armed RPAS Requirement
Following a competition with the IAI Heron TP, GA-ASI's Reaper has been chosen by Australia to answer its armed RPAS needs.
Regulations and Government
GAMA Accelerates Dialogue on eVTOL Aircraft
Thirty executives of GAMA member companies met recently with officials from EASA and the European Commission about the eVTOL industry.
Aircraft
Will Automation Eventually Replace Pilots?
Technology in development could lead to fully automated aircraft over the next decade.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
China Shows Off UAV Capabilities at Zhuhai
A number of new and eye-catching UAV designs from China's burgeoning UAV industry were unveiled at the Zhuhai show
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
NASA Plans 'Challenges' for Urban Air Vehicles
Demonstrations Aim To Build Public Confidence
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Short-term U.S. DoD UAS Spending Could Top $6 Billion
Interest Surges In Small, Tactical Vehicles
Rotorcraft
U.S. Army Flight Tests Optionally Piloted Helicopter
U.S. Army pilots have flown Sikorsky's SARA testbed, which incorporates autonomous systems that provide optionally and optimalley piloted control
