Image

Policy & Regulations

Clemson University Secures Blanket License to Fly UAVs

Posted by Joseph Bebon on November 01, 2016

Clemson University, located in Clemson, S.C., has been granted a blanket license by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) throughout the country and to register more Clemson employees as UAV pilots. According to the [Read More]

FAA Rejects UAS Waiver Requests, Advises on How to Apply Properly

Posted by Betsy Lillian on October 25, 2016

Citing “incorrect or incomplete information” on applications, the FAA has had to reject 71 waiver requests and 854 airspace applications; however, the agency is laying out how to properly submit a request.

FAA Kicks off First Meeting of Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team

Posted by Betsy Lillian on October 25, 2016

Last week in Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) convened the first meeting of its Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST). According to the FAA, the group, which was established in August at the White House’s Drone Day, includes a [Read More]

Gov. Brown Makes Decisions on Slew of California Drone Bills

Written by Betsy Lillian on October 03, 2016

Reiterating that “piecemeal is not the way to go,” the California governor has shut down several bills related to unmanned aircraft systems, as well as approved one.

Bill Penalizing UAVs Over ‘Critical’ Infrastructure Advances in Pa.

Posted by Betsy Lillian on October 03, 2016

Pennsylvania’s Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved a measure that would penalize unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators for flying their aircraft over certain facilities in Pennsylvania, according to bill sponsor Sen. David G. Argall, R-Schuylkill/Berks. S.B.1323 – which was amended [Read More]

Australia Loosens Rules for Lightweight Drones

Posted by Betsy Lillian on October 03, 2016

New rules that cut the cost and red tape of operating very small commercial drones, as well as protect public safety, are now in effect in Australia, according to an announcement from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Entities wanting [Read More]

Oklahoma Delves into State Drone Laws: Where to Go from Here?

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 29, 2016

Testimony presented yesterday on an interim study on drones gave members of Oklahoma’s Senate Public Safety Committee an opportunity to better understand unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) when they consider possible state policy on the use of the technology. The study [Read More]

New Hampshire City Mulls Cemetery UAV Restrictions

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 22, 2016

The City of Claremont, N.H., is looking to implement a policy that would keep consumer unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from flying over cemeteries. According to coverage from the Eagle Times, the Claremont City Council will vote on Oct. 12 to [Read More]

FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee Kicks off First Meeting

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 22, 2016

The inaugural meeting of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) newly established Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) took place on Friday, Sept. 16, in Washington, D.C. According to a summary from the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) – which was charged [Read More]

House Subcommittee Holding Hearing on Commercial Drone Ops

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 22, 2016

Next Tuesday, the U.S. House’s Small Business Committee is holding a hearing entitled “Opportunity Rising: the FAA’s New Regulatory Framework for Commercial Drone Operations.” Taking place at 11:00 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., the hearing [Read More]

San Francisco Proposes Drone Use Policy for City Departments

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 20, 2016

The City and County of San Francisco’s Committee on Information and Technology (COIT) has drafted a drone use policy that, if adopted, will apply to all city employees and contractors. According to the policy draft, any department looking to implement [Read More]

DE’s New Drone Laws Strike Balance Between UAS Growth, Safety: Agency

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 13, 2016

Signed by the governor on Sept. 6, Delaware’s bill “creates the crime of unlawful use of an unmanned aircraft system,” as well as “supersedes the authority” of local governments to regulate the technology.

Calif. Bill Addressing Drones in Emergency Zones Makes its Way to Governor

Posted by Betsy Lillian on September 02, 2016

California State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-El Dorado, says his legislation granting civil immunity to emergency responders who damage unmanned aircraft has passed out of both houses and is now headed to Gov. Jerry Brown. According to the senator, S.B.807 would [Read More]

Drone Rules Are In Effect; FAA Outlines What To Do Now

Posted by Betsy Lillian on August 29, 2016

Regulations for the non-hobbyist use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) officially took effect today, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says it has several processes in place to help users take advantage of the rules, formally known as Part [Read More]

Insurance Company Announces New Forms, Rules Filings for UAS Coverage

Posted by Betsy Lillian on August 22, 2016

American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), a not-for-profit national insurance advisory organization, has announced new filings of Unmanned Aircraft Liability Coverage forms and rules in its Agricultural General Liability Program (AgGL) in response to consumer demand for unmanned aircraft systems [Read More]

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Nashville Sets UAS Rules

Posted by Betsy Lillian on August 11, 2016

The Nashville, Tenn., district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has implemented a new policy governing the use of recreational unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at all Nashville District lakes within the Cumberland River Basin. The guidance has designated safe [Read More]

Global UTM Association Elects Board, Headed by Skyward’s Evans

Posted by Betsy Lillian on July 29, 2016

The newly founded Global UTM Association, a nonprofit based in Lausanne, Switzerland, has elected its first board of directors. The board comprises the following nine members: Jonathan Evans from Skyward as president; Christian Struwe from DJI as vice president; Lorenzo [Read More]

Pennsylvania Game Commission Votes on New Drone Restrictions

Posted by Betsy Lillian on July 28, 2016

Citing concern for wildlife, the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners recently voted unanimously to prohibit drones on property controlled by the game commission. In April, the board gave preliminary approval on a proposal to ban the flying of drones over [Read More]

British Columbia Becomes Latest Province to Ban Drones in Hunting

Posted by Betsy Lillian on July 22, 2016

British Columbia has made it illegal for people to operate or possess a drone – or use data obtained by a drone – while they are on a hunting or trapping expedition. The announcement was made today by Steve Thomson, [Read More]

FAA to AMA: Yes, You Can Fly Over 400 Feet

Posted by Betsy Lillian on July 21, 2016

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) says the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has “recognized AMA’s role as a community-based organization” and thus confirmed that model aircraft are permitted to fly higher than 400 feet in altitude as long as the [Read More]