unmanned aerial vehicles News

Insurers’ Drone Use Picks up After 2017 Hurricane Season

Insurers’ use of drones to inspect property claims came into full swing in 2017, after the FAA began issuing permission allowing commercial firms to operate unmanned aerial vehicles in designated U.S. airspace. Nearly a year later, while some insurers remain …

U.S. Drone Near Misses Surged 46% Last Year

Reports of drones violating safety standards in the U.S. continued to climb last year, rising by 46 percent over the same period a year earlier. There were 1,274 sightings of drones flying too close to other aircraft, people and buildings …

Passenger-Carrying Drone Expected to Fly in Dubai Later This Year

Up, up and away: Dubai hopes to have a passenger-carrying drone regularly buzzing through the skyline of this futuristic city-state in July. The arrival of the Chinese-made EHang 184 – which already has had its flying debut over Dubai’s iconic, …

How Drones Will Impact Claims

Drones may be a game changer for claims investigations and processing, said Kevin Quinley, founder and principal of Quinley Risk Associates. In a Claims Insights podcast interview with Claims Journal, he discussed the transition in the use of drones from …

Stricter Rules Proposed for Drone Users in Senate Bill

All U.S. drone operators would for the first time have to prove they understand aviation regulations under broad legislation introduced Wednesday in the Senate. A bill setting policy for the Federal Aviation Administration includes several new drone provisions, including a …

Toy Drones Pose More Risk to Planes Than Birds, Study Says

Even small toy drones can pose a significant hazard to traditional planes and helicopters in a collision, according to a study. Drones will “most certainly” cause more damage to aircraft than birds, which have caused airliners to crash, according to …

Several Drone Near Misses Reported by Emergency Responders

As Jason Thrasher lowered his helicopter to a park with seven firefighters aboard, he saw what he thought was another firefighting chopper battling a blaze that was threatening homes. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pilot suddenly identified …

Recreational Drones: Do Homeowners’ Insurance Policies Provide Coverage?

The rise in recreational uses of drones (more accurately described as Unmanned Aerial Systems or just “UAS”) has sparked much debate, including concerns over safety and privacy. The scenarios are rather simple to envision: Suppose a person insured under a …

Drone Zones Envisioned for Amazon’s Future Delivery Fleet

The first wave of long-range commercial drones should be allowed to operate in a narrow, low-altitude band and must agree to be tracked, according to Amazon.com Inc.’s vision of the future. While U.S. government regulations now just allow limited usage …

While FAA Works on Drone Rules, Exemptions Increase for Insurance Industry

The Federal Aviation Administration is issuing permits for the commercial use of drones at a rate of about 250 a month as it tries to meet the growing demand for unmanned aircraft while it develops rules for their use. Through …