UK Military Aviation Authority to Update Unmanned Operations Guidelines

2015-10-20

The UK’s Military Aviation Authority is preparing the release of an updated version of its regulations on unmanned air vehicles, which will draw on feedback from a first document that was released last January.

Following the UK’s drawdown from Afghanistan – a theatre in which UAVs were operated in segregated military airspace and often procured under urgent operational requirement deals – the Ministry of Defence saw a requirement for future operations to allow for remotely-piloted air systems (RPAS) to be flown in non-segregated airspace. It introduced the new specific regulations as a result.

“We saw that there would be a proliferation of RPAS in the military sphere,” an MAA representative told a Royal Navy conference in September. “There was a requirement for regulations to cover RPAS-specific issues.”

The UK’s Military Aviation Authority (MAA) is preparing the release of an updated version of its regulations on unmanned air vehicles, which will draw on feedback from a first document that was released in January of last year.

Following the UK’s drawdown from Afghanistan – a theatre in which unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) were operated in segregated military airspace and often procured under urgent operational requirement deals – the Ministry of Defence saw a requirement for future operations to allow for remotely-piloted air systems (RPAS) to be flown in non-segregated airspace. It introduced the new specific regulations as a result.

The MAA replicated the UK Civil Aviation Authority in mandating that the safety of the systems and the safe way in which they are flown as the most important factors, the representative notes. However, if aircraft are to be flown by the military, they need to be certificated accordingly, and CAA clearance is not enough.

The first document, Regulatory Article (RA) 1600, used weight as the discriminator between different UAV classes.

The MAA has acknowledged that these regulations are not necessarily proportionate, so it could start integrating some of the CAA’s approach to UAV regulations, which considers the way in which such equipment will be operated. For example, if the aircraft will be flown within line of sight of the operator, the rules could be more lenient.

Identifying that changes have to be made, the MAA is now preparing a second version of the ruling. This is currently at the draft stage, and is expected to be released in January 2016. The new RA may also allow for more acceptance of commercial certifications as evidence of a system’s safety.

The current regulations split UAVs into three classes, with class I covering small systems, with this class further splitting into four weight divisions.

Class I covers aircraft from the British Army’s Prox Technologies Black Hornet nano UAV up to 150kg (330lb) systems, while classes II and III cover aircraft that are considered to have manned-aircraft equivalence.

“Even in its current state, it does offer significant relief from the previous MRP [MAA regulatory publication] for small RPAS,” the MAA notes. “But it’s only the first step.”

2015-12-15

FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.

2015-12-08

Japan’s Clue launches DroneCloud, data management platform for businesses using drones

Tokyo-based Clue announced in November the launch of a data management service for drones called DroneCloud. The service will offer a platform to manage drone data, such as tracking who operates which drone, managing projects and team members operating drones, as well as managing and sharing drone flight data.

2015-11-30

Minnesota DoT Testing Drones for Bridge Inspections

“We do underneath rope access inspections,” said Barritt Lovelace, a regional manager for Collins Engineers Inc., an agency headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the country. “Basically, we rock-climb bridges. It’s a lot of fun.” In Duluth recently, Lovelace stood with a host of others below the Blatnik Bridge to participate in a demonstration of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s ongoing study of using drones for bridge inspection purposes.

2015-11-23

Over 2,100 Commercial End Users, Vendors at First Annual Drone World Expo

The first ever Drone World Expo had an extremely successful launch last week at the San Jose Convention Center. The exhibit hall floor featured 75 exhibiting companies and the event attracted 2,120 commercial drone professionals. The exhibitors responded enthusiastically about their experience at the new trade show with many already planning on renewing booth space for the 2016 Show which will take place November 15-16 back at the San Jose Convention Center.

2015-11-11

Drone Standards Tough To Reach For Young Pilots

Megan Halek could be the best unmanned aircraft pilot coming out of the University of North Dakota’s highly regarded aviation program this year: She’s aced a training program and has enough air experience to fly private jets worldwide.

2015-11-04

Drone World Expo – Exclusive Board Member Interviews

To find out what inspires their interest in UAS and attracts the Advisory Board Members to support Drone World Expo, we scheduled a series of exclusive interviews. Our eleventh interviewee is Gretchen West, Senior Advisor of Innovation and Technology at Hogan Lovells.

2015-10-26

US DoT Seeks Public Comments on UAS Registration

In a surprise move, DOT just published a document,Clarification of the Applicability of Aircraft Registration Requirements for UAS and Request for Information Regarding Electronic Registration for UAS, to the Federal Register. DOT is soliciting recommendations on all aspects of the UAS registration process, including which UAS should be exempt from the registration requirement.

2015-10-09

Drones are providing film and TV viewers a new perspective on the action

Adazed and bloodied student who had just been mugged stumbled down a darkened alleyway in a slum. He lifted his shirt, revealing a gaping wound, before collapsing on the ground as curious onlookers gathered around.

2015-10-04

Air National Guard wants to Fly MQ-9 Reaper from Syracuse’s Hancock Airport

The Air National Guard wants to fly remotely piloted aircrafts out of Hancock Field at the Syracuse International Airport. The change would save time and money, as the National Guard has to send its aircrafts to fly from Fort Drum because of airspace restrictions.

2015-09-29

NASA Grant Supports Wildfire Research

Two Northwest Nazarene University assistant professors have been awarded a NASA grant to support their research on wildfire monitoring and assessment technology.

Assistant professor of computer science Dale Hamilton and associate professor of computer science Barry Myers weer awarded a NASA EPSCoR (experimental program to stimulate competitive research) Undergraduate Research Grant

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