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Tag: FAA

  • CES 2021: Verizon’s Skyward and UPS Collaborating On Drone Deliveries

    CES 2021: Verizon’s Skyward and UPS Collaborating On Drone Deliveries

    Verizon used CES 2021 to announce its Skyward drone company will be collaborating with UPS Flight Forward for retail deliveries.

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently took important steps toward making drone deliveries a reality. It’s no surprise that UPS is quickly moving to ensure it can provide the service to its customers, and is collaborating with Skyward to make it happen.

    “We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, flying simultaneously, dispatched from a centralized location, operating in a secure and safe environment. To do this at scale, alongside Verizon and Skyward, we’ll need the power of 5G,” said Carol B. Tomé, CEO of UPS.

    “We’re just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way businesses operate,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we can learn from each other’s expertise and collaborate to create solutions that help move the world forward.”

    UPS has already had more than 3,800 drone delivery flights. With the global pandemic, however, drone deliveries have become more important than ever and are widely seen as a way to deliver products in a safe way. The rapid increase in demand is no doubt responsible for UPS working with Skyward.

    The drones will stay connected and be controlled via Verizon’s 4G LTE network, as well as its 5G network where possible.

  • Unmanned Drones Cleared For Night Flight and Flight Over People

    Unmanned Drones Cleared For Night Flight and Flight Over People

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has passed new rules allowing drones to fly at night and fly over people.

    Drones represent the single fastest-growing segment in the transportation sector, although the lack of clear regulation has slowed full adoption. The FAA has now addressed two of these issues, passing rules that should pave the way for more widespread drone usage.

    The first change is that the FAA will now require Remote Identification (Remote ID) for drones. Remote ID will help integrate drones with the national airspace system by providing a way to identify them and their control station locations.

    The second major change is allowing drones to be flown at night, as well as over people. While these kind of operations are currently allowed, they’re only allowed with a waiver from the FAA. With the new rules, drone operations will have increased flexility to perform these kind of operations without a waiver.

    “The new rules make way for the further integration of drones into our airspace by addressing safety and security concerns,” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. “They get us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as the delivery of packages.”

  • Verizon Looking At 5G Drones For Growth

    Verizon Looking At 5G Drones For Growth

    According to a post on the company’s website, “Verizon is seeking to be the first carrier to connect one million drone flights to the 5G network.”

    Verizon has had its sights set on the market for some time, acquiring drone company Skyward in early 2017, just a few months after offering wireless plans aimed at drone makers. The company sees far more potential, however, especially for companies looking to operate fleets of drones, which cost significantly less than helicopters or planes.

    Verizon is counting on the speed of its 5G Ultra Wideband network, along with mobile edge computing (MEC) to provide the missing ingredient necessary for widespread drone deployment. With MEC “more complex functions can be performed nearer to the user and away from centralized servers. By shortening the distance data has to travel, drones will be able to perform more latency-sensitive tasks. As a knock-on benefit, because bulky processors can be offloaded, drones have the potential to get smaller and faster, with extended battery life, so they can stay in the air and on the job longer.”

    Verizon sees tremendous opportunity in the field, as a mere “10% of major enterprises have a drone program, and none of them are connected to a wireless network,” says Mariah Scott, president of Skyward. “We knew early on that connectivity would be critical for drones to truly transform our world. And now 5G Ultra Wideband will usher in a new era in aviation, where we connect and integrate drones into the national airspace.”

    The two companies are working closely to overcome the remaining hurdles for widespread adoption. Verizon’s network will allow operators to pilot drones from thousands of miles away, while its MEC capabilities will make drones viable for a wider range of industries. In the meantime, “Skyward recently unveiled advanced airspace intelligence for drone pilots, including essential ground intelligence and 3D views of more than one million vertical obstacles.”

    The timing is definitely right for Verizon’s ambitions, as the Federal Aviation Administration recently proposed rules that would allow it to identify and track the majority of active drones. This is seen as a major step in integrating drones into the national airspace alongside existing aerial vehicles.

  • Swarms of Drones Appearing in the Colorado/Nebraska Night Sky and Nobody Knows Why

    Swarms of Drones Appearing in the Colorado/Nebraska Night Sky and Nobody Knows Why

    According to the Denver Post, a swarm of drones numbering anywhere from 17 to 30 have been appearing in the night sky above Colorado and Nebraska.

    The drones are roughly six feet across, and have been appearing and disappearing at the same time every night, and stay between 200 and 300 feet off the ground. Based on a statement by Phillips County Sheriff Thomas Elliot, the drones appear to be searching for something or mapping the terrain.

    “They’ve been doing a grid search, a grid pattern,” Elliot told the Denver Post. “They fly one square and then they fly another square.”

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it did not know where the drones came from or who was operating them. Meanwhile, the Air Force, US Army Forces Command and Drug Enforcement Administration all denied the drones were theirs. Given the size and numbers of drones, it seems likely the drones are being flown by a company or agency, as an operation of this size would likely be prohibitive for hobbyists.

    The FAA recently proposed a new rule that would give it the authority to identify and track the majority of drones in the skies. Such a rule would make it much easier for the FAA to know who the drones belong to and exactly what they’re doing.

  • FAA Proposes Rule to Identify and Track Most Drones

    FAA Proposes Rule to Identify and Track Most Drones

    Dominos Pizza, Amazon and Workhorse are just a few of the companies looking to use drones for deliveries. A new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rule is about to pave the way for much wider adoption of drone technology.

    According to the Federal Register, the FAA put forward a rule Thursday that would allow it to identify and track most drones in operation. According to the document, the rule will “require the remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems. The remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems in the airspace of the United States would address safety, national security, and law enforcement concerns regarding the further integration of these aircraft into the airspace of the United States while also enabling greater operational capabilities.”

    The rule would apply to the vast majority of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with very few exceptions. Some of those exceptions would be amateur-built UAS, unmanned aircraft weighing less than 0.55 pounds and UAS operated by the U.S. government.

    While some UAS operators may balk at more regulation, the rule should help spur drone adoption by “creating situational awareness of all UAS flying in the airspace of the United States, which would allow additional and more complex UAS operations to take place.”

  • FAA to Promote Spaceports and Neil deGrasse Tyson Says It’s About Time

    FAA to Promote Spaceports and Neil deGrasse Tyson Says It’s About Time

    Congress is set to approve a Federal Aviation Administration bill that authorizes a significant increase in spending for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). However, what has brought excitement to astrophysicists and space enthusiasts is the provision on spaceports.

    Per SpaceNews, this requires AST to develop a report on spaceport policies, including recommendations on government actions to “support, encourage, promote, and facilitate greater investments in infrastructure at spaceports.” 

    “The bill creates a category of commercial spaceflight vehicles known as “space support vehicles” that cover parts of launch vehicles systems flying for other purposes, such as training or testing. Such vehicles would include the aircraft used by air-launch systems. The bill allows commercial flights of space support vehicles without the need for a full-fledged airworthiness certificate from the FAA.” – SpaceNews

    Renowned astrophysicists, author, and TV host Neil deGrasse Tyson is very excited that the United States is finally getting serious again about space, following the seeming lack of interest by Obama and previous administrations. Many space exploration supporters including Tyson believe this spaceport focus “should have been in progress decades ago”.

    Tyson’s most recent book, Accessory to War, The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military is another great read that you won’t want to miss.

    Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke to Fox Business News about the spaceport announcement:

    In my field, we are overwhelmingly liberal and anti-war. Yet, the entire history of my field goes back to the service of military conquest, hegemony, and empire building. We were the ones who knew how to navigate the night’s sky and how to apply those navigational tools to the earth’s surface, enabling for you to find out what countries you want to conquer or to colonize. There have been astronomers sitting next to explorers right from the beginning.

    Just look at GPS, something that started out as a military intended utility has now become a fundamental driver of so many elements of our modern economy from Uber to Tinder. So this relationship is long and deep.

    There’s a lot of interesting things going on today with the FAA’s announcement that they want to stimulate and promote spaceports and commercial access to space. That really should have been in progress decades ago. This is important because you need someone to think it through from the beginning so if and when it becomes a thing there has been a lot of intelligent analysis regarding the safety of who’s sending you to space, regarding the safety of who’s down range from whatever is launched, and the safety of your duration in space.

    Think of what the FAA has done for us to this day. We have one of the safest aviation records the world has ever seen. You want that to also be true for any activities that occur in space, especially space tourism, which will get you the average person taking these trips rather than just the flyboy macho person who will take the 50 percent risk of dying. You want to turn this into something that people might want to do.

    The first trillionaire will be the person who exploits space resources on asteroids, comets, etc…

  • Google, Amazon Join Not-As-Cool-As-It-Sounds Drone Task Force

    Google, Amazon Join Not-As-Cool-As-It-Sounds Drone Task Force

    The Federal Aviation Administration is getting proactive on drones, as the popularity of the unmanned aircraft systems (both personal and commercial) is only going to increase.

    The FAA and the Department of Transportation have announced a UAS Task Force and filled it with companies and organizations with stakes in the business of drones.

    The goal of the Task Force appears to be drone registration,

    “DOT Sec. Foxx set a deadline of Nov. 20 for the Task Force to complete its recommendations and work is already underway. The group will meet formally from Nov. 3-5 before developing recommendations on a streamlined registration process and minimum requirements on which unmanned aircraft should be registered. Given the urgency of this issue, the DOT and FAA will move expeditiously to consider the Task Force’s recommendations.”

    So, who’s on this drone Task Force?

    Amazon, Google, Best Buy, GoPro, and Walmart, among others.

    Here’s the full list, according to the FAA:

    Nancy Egan – 3D Robotics
    Richard Hanson – Academy of Model Aeronautics
    George Novak – Aerospace Industries Association
    Chuck Hogeman and Randy Kenagy – Air Line Pilots Association
    Jim Coon – Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
    Sean Cassidy – Amazon Prime Air
    Ben Gielow – Amazon Retail
    Justin Towles – American Association of Airport Executives
    Brian Wynne – Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
    Parker Brugge – Best Buy
    Douglas Johnson – Consumer Electronics Association
    Brendan Schulman – DJI
    Paul Feldman – General Aviation Manufacturers Association
    Dave Vos – GoogleX (Co-Chair)
    Tony Bates – GoPro
    Matt Zuccaro – Helicopter Association International
    Mike Fergus – International Association of Chiefs of Police
    John Perry – Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors
    Brandon Declet – Measure
    Randall Burdett – National Association of State Aviation Officials
    Sarah Wolf – National Business Aviation Association
    Baptiste Tripard – Parrot
    Tyler Collins – PrecisionHawk
    Gregory McNeal – Small UAV Coalition
    Thomas Head – Walmart

    Walmart is working on delivery drones. Google is too. We all know Amazon is champing at the bit to get Amazon Prime Air off the ground. Your dad is getting a drone too. You probably are. Drones are coming, and the FAA knows it needs to do everything it can to make sure it doesn’t devolve into a cluster.

    Image via ZullyC3P, Wikimedia Commons

  • NFL Drones Approved, But There’s a Catch

    NFL Drones Approved, But There’s a Catch

    NFL Films, the media-production arm of the National Football League, has just been awarded the right to fly drones in NFL stadiums.

    The NFL is the first major American sport league to receive such permission.

    So, you can expect a bunch of cool aerial shots in all upcoming NFL Films productions, right?

    Well, yeah – but there’s a catch.

    The Federal Aviation Administration, which doles out the exemptions for commercial drones, has placed a bunch of restrictions on the NFL’s drone permission. Drones must weigh less than 55 pounds, only fly up to 400 feet, and travel no faster than 100 miles per hour.

    There’s also this:

    All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating
    persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures unless:

    a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons
    from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure
    that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises
    where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of
    the UA, flight operations must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety
    of nonparticipating persons; and

    b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission
    for operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of
    the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not
    present an undue hazard.

    Basically, this means that the NFL’s drone flights cannot take place during actual games, with full stadiums. For now, NFL Films can only fly drones in empty stadiums.

    Just for now, hopefully. Anyone who’s ever watched NFL Films can imagine how it would greatly benefit the program to have drones at its disposal.

    Even with this drone exemption, the Super Bowl will likely stay a drone-free zone. Let’s just hope the FAA’s PSA can top last year’s odd display.

  • Teen’s Homemade Gun-Equipped ‘Drone’ Sparks FAA Investigation

    A short YouTube video of a quadcopter has prompted an investigation from the Federal Aviation Administration.

    This 14-second clip is simply titled “Flying Gun” and shows a handgun mounted on a quadcopter hovering above a wooded area. The gun fires a few shots and the video ends.

    “Homemade multirotor with a semiautomatic handgun mounted on it. Note: The length from the muzzle to the rear of the frame is over 26,” reads the description.

    The video has nearly two million views in less than two weeks on YouTube.

    AFP reports that the FAA is now involved, and it wants to know if the “flying gun” maker has violated any laws.

    “The FAA will investigate the operation of an unmanned aircraft system in a Connecticut park to determine if any Federal Aviation Regulations were violated,” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA will also work with its law enforcement partners to determine if there were any violations of criminal statutes.”

    Turns out, the gun-toting ‘drone’ was built by an 18-year-old in Connecticut, under the guidance of his father.

    From NBC Connecticut:

    Haughwout’s father Brett Haughwout said his son is an engineering student at Central Connecticut State University, custom built a drone device that included a spot for a handgun and the capability to fire it midflight. The gun belongs to Brett.

     

    Brett said the video that shows the drone firing the weapon was shot on their property in Clinton, Connecticut. The father and son duo did “extensive research” before assembling the flying weapon to make sure they wouldn’t break any laws.

    Local officials said they don’t think the device breaks any state laws.

  • Amazon Drones Get FAA Go-ahead for Testing, but Don’t Get Too Excited

    The Federal Aviation Administration has granted Amazon an “experimental airworthiness certificate” that allows the company to begin research and training on its fleet of delivery drones, what the company calls Amazon Prime Air. Unfortunately for Amazon, the certificate comes with some of the same restrictions the FAA proposed in its comprehensive drone regulations back in February.

    “The Federal Aviation Administration today issued an experimental airworthiness certificate to an Amazon Logistics, Inc. unmanned aircraft (UAS) design that the company will use for research and development and crew training. The FAA typically issues experimental certificates to manufacturers and technology developers to operate a UAS that does not have a type certificate,” said the FAA in a release.

    The FAA says that the certificate only allows daylight drone flights with a 400-foot max height. Also, the drone pilot is required to have “at least a private pilot’s certificate and current medical certification.”

    But probably the most troublesome to Amazon’s drone purposes is the line-of-sight rule, which limits all drone flights to those in which the pilot can physically see the aircraft.

    “The certificate also requires Amazon to provide monthly data to the FAA. The company must report the number of flights conducted, pilot duty time per flight, unusual hardware or software malfunctions, any deviations from air traffic controllers’ instructions, and any unintended loss of communication links. The FAA includes these reporting requirements in all UAS experimental airworthiness certificates,” said the FAA.

    Last month, the FAA released its long-awaited proposal for new regulations on commercial drones. The proposed rules were not as restrictive as some feared, but they do limit drone flight enough to make Amazon’s dream of drone delivery pretty difficult to nearly impossible.

    Amazon wasn’t thrilled, saying,

    “The FAA’s proposed rules for small UAS could take one or two years to be adopted and, based on the proposal, even then those rules wouldn’t allow Prime Air to operate in the United States. The FAA needs to begin and expeditiously complete the formal process to address the needs of our business, and ultimately our customers. We are committed to realizing our vision for Prime Air and are prepared to deploy where we have the regulatory support we need.”

    In other words, we’re going overseas.

    The FAA’s new exemption may work for testing, and convince Amazon to stay here with that – but the rules the agency has proposed are in no way Amazon-friendly. Unless something changes, a future where your new pair of shoes is quietly dropped off by a quadcopter looks like a longshot.

  • Harrison Ford: Plane He Was Piloting Crashes

    Harrison Ford, known for roles in films like Indiana Jones, was piloting a WW2 vintage plane on Thursday that crashed onto a golf course in L.A. He survived the crash and is reportedly in stable condition.

    According to a report from People magazine, Ford, who is 72, was the only person on board the plane.

    “Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which had engine trouble upon take off,” a rep for Harrison Ford said in a statement to the media. “He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely. He was banged up and is in the hospital receiving medical care. The injuries sustained are not life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.”

    Harrison Ford’s son Ben tweeted about the incident later in the day.

    Ford reportedly sustained a head injury as a result of the plane crash.

    “There were two doctors who had been at the golf course who first attended to Mr. Ford and the Santa Monica Fire Department was the first to arrive,” Santa Monica City Commissioner Phil Brock told People.

    Assistant Chief Patrick Butler of the L.A. Fire Department said during a press conference that Harrison Ford wasn’t in the plane when emergency personnel arrived on scene at the airport.

    “The patient was in moderate condition, alert and conscious and breathing and was transported to a local hospital,” Butler said. He noted that the plane had avoided residential areas that closely surround the golf course. “I would say that it is an area that probably presented the least amount of impact to the community,” he said.

    Butler added that the FAA and NTSB will investigate the crash.

    Harrison Ford was heard by air traffic control reporting his plane emergency.

    “Engine failure, requesting immediate return,” he was heard saying prior to the crash.

    This isn’t the first plane crash Harrison Ford has experienced. The actor landed his six-passenger plane hard back in 2000, and crash-landed a helicopter on which he was practicing emergency landings back in 1999.

    If you were Ford, might you consider staying on the ground?

    Lots of people are breathing a sigh of relief since learning that even though Harrison Ford crashed his plane, he survived the crash and is in stable condition. It will certainly be interesting to learn what the investigation into the crash determines.

  • FAA Drone Rules Open Door for Commercial Use, but Still Too Restrictive for Amazon

    The Federal Aviation Administration has finally released its long-awaited proposal for new regulations on commercial drones. The proposed rules are not as restrictive as some feared, but they do limit drone flight enough to render something like Amazon’s Prime Air delivery scheme virtually impossible.

    Up until now, it’s been illegal to fly drones for commercial purposes without a special exemption from the FAA. With the new rules, commercial drone use would be legal under certain guidelines. All of these rules apply to “small UAS” – 55 pounds and below.

    First of all, not just anyone can fly a drone. All drone “operators” must be at least 17 years old and must pass an aeronautical knowledge test and obtain an FAA UAS operator certificate. Not only that, but they must maintain certification by passing the knowledge test every two years.

    There are major restrictions on how these operators can fly their drones. This is what kills Amazon’s (and now many other companies’) drone delivery dreams:

    The proposed rule would require an operator to maintain visual line of sight of a small UAS. The rule would allow, but not require, an operator to work with a visual observer who would maintain constant visual contact with the aircraft. The operator would still need to be able to see the UAS with unaided vision (except for glasses). The FAA is asking for comments on whether the rules should permit operations beyond line of sight, and if so, what the appropriate limits should be.

    “We have tried to be flexible in writing these rules,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We want to maintain today’s outstanding level of aviation safety without placing an undue regulatory burden on an emerging industry.”

    Amazon, as you might expect, isn’t thrilled with the FAA’s new rules.

    The line of sight rule is the real killer, and many companies argue that the technology to safely operate drones outside the line of sight is available.

    The public comment period, which will surely include a lot of conversation about “stifling business innovation”, could take as long as two years.

  • FAA Declares the Super Bowl a ‘No Drone Zone’ in Odd PSA

    The Federal Aviation Administration would like you to please refrain from flying your unmanned aircraft over the Super Bowl.

    “Many familiar sounds are associated with the Super Bowl: Cheering fans. Referee whistles. The spectacular halftime show. Booming fireworks. But one sound you shouldn’t hear is the whirring of an unmanned aircraft overhead. The Super Bowl is strictly a ‘No Drone Zone,’” says the FAA.

    Of course, “No Drone Zone” is so catchy that the FAA felt compelled to produce a 15-second PSA.

    According to the FAA, flying drones over any NFL game is against the law. The “no drone zone” also applies to most college stadiums and MLB fields. Violators face both criminal and civil penalties.

    I guess it’s for the best. We all know what happens when people get drunk and try to fly drones. Plus, you don’t want Rand Paul shooting your brand new drone out of the sky.

  • FAA’s New Drone Rules Could Be Bad for Business

    The Federal Aviation Administration is poised to propose new rules for commercial drones by year’s end, and if they look anything like what the Wall Street Journal is reporting – it’s going to be a rough day for businesses and drone enthusiasts.

    According to the report, the FAA is planning some rather restrictive new rules for commercial drones under 55 pounds. Apparently, the FAA wants all drones operators to be real pilots.

    “[P}ilot certifications likely to be proposed by the FAA would typically require dozens of hours flying manned aircraft, according to people familiar with the rule-making discussions,” reports the WSJ.

    There will also be other restrictions on the drones’ actual flight. The FAA wants limit commercial drone operation to daylight hours, make sure that drones never fly higher than 400 feet, and require that the drone operator never lose line of sight with the drone.

    This would make it very tough for a company like Amazon – who’s currently looking to get a fleet of delivery drones off the ground.

    And Amazon’s not the only one.

    Also a bummer for small drone enthusiasts – there might be no differentiation between super-lightweight drones and those weighing up to 55 pounds. From the WSJ:

    The agency also plans to group all drones weighing less than 55 pounds under one set of rules. That would dash hopes for looser rules on the smallest drones, such as the 2.8-pound Phantom line of camera-equipped, four-rotor helicopters made by China’s SZ DJI Technology Co. Similar-sized devices are seen as the most commercially viable drones and have surged in popularity in the last two years.

    Until the FAA sets new rules for commercial drones (which could take a couple years even after proposing them), the agency will continue to issue exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Back in September, the FAA approved drone use for certain film/TV production companies. These rumored regulations could put a damper on that end of drone use, as well.

    Image via Amazon

  • FAA Approves Drone Use for Movie, TV Production Companies

    As expected, the FAA has officially granted six aerial photo and video production companies exemptions to fly drones for the purposes of movie and TV filming.

    US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who announced the decision, said that it was “a significant milestone in broadening commercial UAS use while ensuring we maintain our world-class safety record in all forms of flight.

    “These companies are blazing a trail that others are already following, offering the promise of new advances in agriculture and utility safety and maintenance,” he added.

    In other words, open the floodgates.

    The seven production companies first petitioned the FAA for exemptions back in June, with the help of the MPAA. The industry had been pushing for this for a while, and this is indeed a victory. Six of the seven applications have been approved, with one still pending.

    “The applicants submitted UAS flight manuals with detailed safety procedures that were a key factor in our approval of their requests,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We are thoroughly satisfied these operations will not pose a hazard to other aircraft or to people and property on the ground.”

    The production companies had to prove that their UAS operations “would not adversely affect safety, or would provide at least an equal level of safety to the rules from which they seek the exemptions.”

    As the New York Times points out, this is a huge moment. It’ll be the first time that a company, located in the US, will legally fly drones over other humans. The first FAA-approved commercial drone flight over land, granted to AeroVironment’s Puma AE, surveyed BP’s oil pipelines in Alaska.

    Image via VidMuze, YouTube

  • Drones: Movies, TV Set to Receive Filming Approval from FAA

    Drones: Movies, TV Set to Receive Filming Approval from FAA

    The Federal Aviation Administration is poised to approve exemptions for seven aerial photo and video production companies, allowing them to lawfully operate their unmanned aircraft systems for the purposes of filming movies and television shows.

    Both Bloomberg and Reuters quote sources familiar with the matter who say the FAA will let these seven production companies fly their small drones on closed sets. The administration is expected to make the official announcement as early as Thursday.

    The seven production companies first petitioned the FAA for exemptions back in June, with the help of the MPAA. The film and television industry had been pushing for this for a long time, but those were the first formal requests. FIlm and TV companies argue that not only are drones a most cost-effective way to achieve aerial shots (as opposed to let’s say, a helicopter), but it would allow them to shoot in the US, instead of having to go outside the country to film in areas with more lenient rules regulating unmanned aircraft.

    The film industry is just one of many looking to employ UAS these days. You probably already know about Amazon, who recently petitioned the FAA for an exemption from its commercial drone ban. Amazon, of course, is trying to build a fleet of delivery drones – which the company says will one day we as commonplace as mail trucks.

    Other industries like precision agriculture, power line and pipeline inspection, and oil and gas flare stack inspection are also pushing into the drone game. In June, the first FAA-approved commercial drone flight over land was handed to AeroVironment’s Puma AE, which BP will use to survey pipelines in Alaska.

    Image via VidMuze, YouTube

  • Amazon Asks FAA for Drone Exemption

    Amazon Asks FAA for Drone Exemption

    Amazon is making strides in the development of Amazon Prime Air, the company’s oft-parodied but completely serious drone delivery service. Their newest delivery drones (currently ninth-gen) can travel over 50 mph and can carry five-pound packages – which covers 86 percent of all products sold on Amazon.

    They’ve been able to make these advancements through research, development, and testing indoors and in other countries – but in order to really ramp up the project, they’re going to need some space. Some American space.

    Amazon has petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration, asking for an exemption from their commercial drone (sUAS) ban.

    “Current FAA rules allow hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft wide latitude in flying their sUAS outdoors. Because Amazon is a commercial enterprise we have been limited to conducting R&D flights indoors or in other countries. Of course, Amazon would prefer to keep the focus, jobs, and investment of this important research and development initiative in the United States by conducting private research and development operations outdoors near Seattle – where our next generation R&D lab and distinguished team of engineers, scientists and aeronautical professionals are located,” says Amazon in a letter to FAA administrator Michael Huerta.

    The FAA has several designated testing locations around the country, but Amazon wants to fly their drones close to home, in Seattle.

    The FAA grants exemptions on a case-by-case basis, and only in situations where the petitioner can prove that operating their unmanned aircraft will provide a benefit to the public, and also no harm.

    “Granting Amazon an exemption to allow R&D testing outdoors in the United States is in the public interest because it advances Congress’s goal of getting commercial sUAS flying in the United States safely and soon. It is a necessary step towards realizing the consumer benefits of Amazon Prime Air and, at this point, Amazon’s continuing innovation in the United States requires the requested exemption for outdoor testing in support of our R&D,” says Amazon.

    “Further, granting this request will do nothing more than allow Amazon to do what thousands of hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft do every day, and we will abide by much stronger safety measures than currently required for these groups by FAA policies and regulations. In this petition for exemption, we seek to engage in essentially the same type of sUAS operation that the FAA would permit us to currently – but for the fact that Amazon is not a hobbyist or manufacturer of a model aircraft.”

    Amazon thinks that one day the sight of flying delivery drones will be as common as mail trucks. It’s a bold prediction for sure, and not everyone shares their enthusiasm.

    But some do.

    Amazon says their drones, which weigh no more than 55 pounds, will be flown at 400 feet or lower.

    “We will effectively operate our own private model airplane field, but with additional safeguards that go far beyond those that FAA has long‐held provide a sufficient level of safety for public model airplane fields – and only with sUAS. Indeed, the combination of geo‐fencing and lost‐link procedures sUAS stays within the tightly defined operating area within our private property,” says Amazon.

    Last month, the FAA approved the first-ever commercial drone flight over land, allowing sUAS to survey BP pipelines in Alaska. Amazon is far from the only ones asking the FAA for waivers.

    Image via Amazon

  • Justin Bieber Lucks Out With FAA

    Justin Bieber Lucks Out With FAA

    Justin Bieber has been dealt a ‘get out of jail free’ pass–at least by the FAA. The Federal Aviation Administration has closed its investigation into what happened on the private jet the As Long As You Love me singer and his entourage were traveling on and were briefly detained on back in January. Bieber and his friends flew into Teterboro Airport in New Jersey for Super Bowl festivities and reportedly both mistreated the flight crew and smoked so much marijuana that the pilots had to wear their oxygen masks during the flight.

    “The FAA closed its investigation into allegations that passengers interfered with the flight crew on a Gulfstream G-IV aircraft that landed at Teterboro Airport on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014,” a statement released on Thursday reads. “The FAA found no evidence that the passengers violated Federal Aviation Regulations.”

    In April Justin Bieber was detained at Los Angeles International Airport, having arrived there from Tokyo. He was detained for about four hours during that incident and it was reported that he will likely be treated this way every time he enters the country because of prior incidents with the law–not only in the U.S. but in other countries as well.

    Problems for Selena Gomez’s on-again, off-again boyfriend definitely aren’t limited to FAA issues either. However a recent report stating that the Home Owners Association where he lives was looking to hire extra security to keep Justin Bieber in line apparently isn’t true.

    “No emergency HOA meeting has taken place but the association is looking into added security on an as needed basis to ensure the privacy of the residents is protected,” a source said, also noting that management and the HOA are working together to make sure all residents are up to date on all regulations. “This is to protect the privacy of all residents, including Justin Bieber.”

    Might this ‘get out of jail free’ card encourage Justin Bieber to settle down a bit and refrain from his ‘thug-like’ ways? The singer is said to be in Miami for the 4th of July weekend. That’s where his arrest for drag racing took place at the beginning of the year. Hopefully Selena Gomez is there with him. She seems to have what it takes to keep the Biebs in line.

    Justin is apparently trying his hand at peacemaking, however. A recent problem that took place upon his arrival in Miami was averted by the pop singer.

    Maybe Justin Bieber has it in his heart to quell his seemingly wicked ways?

    Image via Instagram

  • First FAA-Approved Commercial Drone Flight Over Land Will Survey BP Pipelines in Alaska

    First FAA-Approved Commercial Drone Flight Over Land Will Survey BP Pipelines in Alaska

    The Federal Aviation Administration has issued the first-ever waiver for an over-land drone flight, and it went to BP and UAS manufacturer AeroVironment.

    The first drone to perform routine commercial services over land will be AeroVironment’s Puma AE – a hand-launched UAS that measures about four-and-a-half feet long with a wingspan of nine feet.

    BP will use the drones to survey pipelines, equipment, and roads in Rudhoe Bay, Alaska. More specifically, “target maintenance activities on specific roads and infrastructure, which will save time and support safety and operational reliability goals, while helping to protect the sensitive North Slope environment,” according to BP.

    Prudhoe Bay is the biggest oilfield in the US.

    “These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The technology is quickly changing, and the opportunities are growing.”

    It’s important to note that the FAA has already granted waivers to commercial UAS, but they flew over Arctic waters.

    “Thanks to the FAA’s rigorous, safety-focused certification process for UAS, BP and AeroVironment have launched a safer, better and more cost-effective solution for managing critical infrastructure and resources,” said Tim Conver, AeroVironment chairman and chief executive officer. “BP’s forward-thinking embrace of UAS technology enabled AeroVironment to deliver a comprehensive approach for generating, processing and converting data collected by portable UAS into actionable information that provides tangible economic and operational advantages. Integrated into BP’s routine operations, this new solution is now helping BP manage its extensive Prudhoe Bay field operations in a way that enhances safety, protects the environment, improves productivity and accomplishes activities never before possible.”

    AeroVironment says that their Puma AE UAS is very well suited for this operation, which will monitor a chunk of land that produces around two-thirds of oil in the state of Alaska.

    Image via AeroVironment

  • Filmmakers Ask FAA to Let Them Make Movies with Drones

    The Motion Picture Association of America has facilitated the requests of seven different “aerial photo and video production companies” to be granted exemptions from the Federal Aviation Administration so that they can finally lawfully operate their unmanned aircraft systems.

    In other words, the FAA may allow filmmakers to shoot movies with drones.

    The film and television industry has been pushing this for some time, but this constitutes the first set of formal requests, and the first time that the FAA has explicitly said that they are considering it.

    “If the exemption requests are granted, there could be tangible economic benefits as the agency begins to address the demand for commercial UAS operations. However, all the associated safety issues must be carefully considered to make sure any hazards are appropriately mitigated,” said the FAA in a statement.

    The companies are petitioning the FAA to grant certain exemptions, for instance ones that regulate general flight rules, pilot certificate requirements, manuals, maintenance and equipment mandates.

    Waiving certain FAA regulations would allow filmmaking companies to fly UAS (drones) in “narrowly-defined, controlled, low-risk situations.” Filmmakers could employ drones to capture aerial shots, instead of having to settle for a much costlier method for acquiring the shot, like a helicopter.

    As drones become more popular, the Federal government is going to face more challenges to their rules banning commercial operation. We’ve already heard stories of the FAA pretty much putting the kibosh on small businesses and everyday citizens attempting to make things easier with drones. Earlier this year, a brewery had its beer delivery drones grounded by the administration. A couple months later, a flower delivery company made news when its small fleet of drones were forced to park it on terra firma.

    And it’s not just the little guys–big business is getting into the drone game. Amazon is reportedly working on its 7th and 8th generation drones for its ‘Amazon Prime Air’ program.

    Of course, filmmakers, with the MPAA’s backing (and even Amazon) have a much better chance to snag exemptions than Joe Flower Deliverer. The FAA says they are considering exemption requests from three other industries: precision agriculture, power line and pipeline inspection, and oil and gas flare stack inspection.

    Image via VidMuze, YouTube

  • Alaska Near Miss: NTSB Investigates

    An Alaska Airlines passenger jet had a “near miss” with a smaller cargo aircraft above Anchorage’s Fire Island.

    The passenger plane from Portland, Oregon, which was carrying 143 passengers, was scheduled to land at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on Runway 15, when the pilot was told by air controllers to do a “go-around” in order to avoid an Ace Air Cargo plane. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation on the incident.

    The aircrafts were said to be a quarter mile from each other, and were flying at the same elevation.

    Clint Johnson, the NTSB spokesman, said that the planes were so close to each other, that one of the pilots could spot the other plane as it flew. The “go-around” was requested in order to give more space to both planes as they were nearing the same airport.

    The Alaska Airlines jet was able to land safely on the runway. Reports say that the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 jet has a collision avoidance system. It alerted the crew of the proximity of the other aircraft, and as a result, the pilots shifted to a higher altitude.

    In a statement, Alaska Airlines said, “Our pilots are highly trained and skilled at responding to situations like this and are to be commended for their handling of the situation.” The company also said that they are working hand-in-hand with the NTSB on the investigation.

    Data from the Anchorage control tower and the two aircrafts is being reviewed. According to Ace Air Cargo’s pilot Todd Erickson, they were aware of the situation and they were talking with the control tower all throughout.

    According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there were also two jetliners that came in close proximity at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston last week. The two were separated by less than a mile.

    The FAA also reported that in 2012, the similar incidents happened 4,400 times, which averaged to 12 “near misses” a day.

    Compilation of gut-wrenching aircraft near misses

    Image via YouTube