unmanned aerial systems News

Drones Help Fight Fires After Dark

Kale Casey almost can’t believe what a metal bird 5 feet long, weighing 44 pounds with wings spanning 10 feet, can do to help fight a wildfire. “For eight hours a night, without getting tired, without needing a meal … …

Science Panel Says FAA is Overly Tough on Drones

Science advisers to the federal government say safety regulators should do more to speed the integration of commercial drones into the nation’s airspace. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine said in a report Monday that federal safety regulators …

Drone’s Ease Piercing New York ‘No-Fly’ Zone Underscores Risks

A recreational drone operator whose device smashed into a U.S. Army helicopter in September flew undetected into a no-fly zone over New York set up to protect President Donald Trump and the United Nations. The National Transportation Safety Board on …

Risk of Collision With Planes Increases as Drone Use Grows

The millions of small civilian drones plying the nation’s skies can cause significant damage to airliners and business jets in a midair collision, new research commissioned by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration concluded. While most drones weigh only a few …

Surge in Drone Safety Reports Prompts FAA ‘Emergency’ Action

Reports of safety incidents involving civilian drones have surged to an average of 250 a month, leading to a federal “emergency” action to approve drone flights in restricted areas, according to a government notice seeking new procedures for the craft. …

FAA Drone Panel Can’t Agree on Need for Security Measures

A panel of industry and law enforcement officials couldn’t agree on how civilian drones should be tracked by authorities, adding uncertainty to the push for expanded commercial uses. The advisory committee, established earlier this year by the Federal Aviation Administration, …

Study Finds Small Drones Unlikely to Cause Major Head Injuries

The small, popular drones flooding the commercial market are unlikely to cause severe head injuries if they fall out of the sky and strike people, a new study has concluded. The results are similar to findings earlier this year by …

Confusing Drone Rules Cause Headaches for Businessowners

When Jim Komsa launched his aerial photography business in 2013, using airplanes to shoot photos from the sky, he said there were only a handful of competitors in all of New Jersey. Now, there are dozens. Komsa, the co-owner of …

UK Plans to Tighten Drone Rules After Near-Misses With Planes

British officials announced plans Saturday to further regulate drone use in a bid to prevent accidents and threats to commercial aviation. The new rules will require drones that weigh eight ounces (226.79 grams) or more to be registered and users …

Group Opposes Federal Drone Legislation

The Property Drone Consortium (PDC) recently announced its opposition to The Drone Federalism Act of 2017, introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). The Drone Federalism Act of 2017 would give …