The FAA's New Drone Rules Are Effective Today - Charles D'Alberto

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) new comprehensive regulations go into effect today for routine non-recreational use of small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – more popularly known as “drones.”

The provisions of the new rule – formally known as Part 107 – are designed to minimize risks to other aircraft and people and property on the ground. A summary is available here. (PDF)

The FAA has put several processes in place to help you take advantage of the rule.

Waivers: If your proposed operation doesn’t quite comply with Part 107 regulations, you’ll need to apply for a waiver of some restrictions. You’ll have to prove the proposed flight will be conducted safely under a waiver. Users must apply for these waivers at the online portal located at www.faa.gov/UAS

Airspace Authorization: You can fly your drone in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace without air traffic control authorization, but operations in any other airspace need air traffic approval. You must request access to controlled airspace via the electronic portal at www.faa.gov/UAS, not from individual air traffic facilities.

You may submit your requests starting today, but air traffic facilities will receive approved authorizations according to the following tentative schedule:

Class D & E Surface Area October 3, 2016
Class C October 31, 2016
Class B December 5, 2016

We will try to approve requests as soon as possible, but the actual time will vary depending on the complexity of an individual request and the volume of applications we receive. You should submit a request at least 90 days before you intend to fly in controlled airspace.

Aeronautical Knowledge Test. Testing centers nationwide can now administer the Aeronautical Knowledge Test required under Part 107. After you pass the test, you must complete an FAA Airman Certificate and/or Rating Application to receive your remote pilot certificate at: https://iacra.faa.gov/IACRA/Default.aspx

It may take up to 48 hours for the website to record you passed the test. We expect to validate applications within 10 days. You will then receive instructions for printing a temporary airman certificate, which is good for 120 days. We will mail you a permanent Remote Pilot Certificate within 120 days.

The new regulations don’t apply to model aircraft operations that meet all the criteria specified in Section 336 of Public Law 112-95 (which is now codified in part 101), including the stipulation they be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes.

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Volocopter VC200 – Dynamic performance flight tests (unmanned) - Charles D'Alberto (video)

Aeryon SkyRanger first UAV with FAA approval for nighttime commercial operation - Charles D'Alberto

Charles D’Alberto

Aeryon Labs Inc., a leader in small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAVs), has announced that Toronto-based Industrial SkyWorks (ISW), a leader in aerial building inspections using unmanned technologies, is the first commercial operator to be approved for nighttime operations in the United States.

The Aeryon SkyRanger is named as the sUAS that will be deployed to capture the visual evidence of where a building is losing energy or needs repair, especially in areas that are difficult to access, such as a roof.

ISW has been successfully operating the Aeryon SkyRanger under the Tremco Roofing SkyBEAM brand in Canada over the past 18 months.

The SkyBEAM (Building Envelope Asset Mapping) UAS is used to fly around buildings capturing high-definition (HD) video and thermographic (infrared) imagery to locate energy leaks, rooftop damage, poor or missing window sealing or wet rooftop insulation, safety issues and other potential problems.

Infrared scanning is most effective at night, when the sun cannot affect the temperature of the building. Traditional infrared scans require technicians to walk rooftops at night, while other inspections dictate working from scaffolding or cranes.

SkyBEAM is safer, faster, more cost effective and more accurate than conventional methods of inspecting and mapping buildings.

“This recent exemption by the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] is extremely positive for Industrial SkyWorks, Tremco Roofing and maintenance and for commercial operations in general,” said Aeryon Labs president and CEO, Dave Kroetsch. “We are excited that Industrial SkyWorks is the first commercial company to conduct nighttime inspections with the Aeryon SkyRanger in the U.S.

“Aeryon sUAS have been deployed for nighttime missions in search and rescue and other mission-critical applications for years and this shows that the market and the FAA continue to broaden the uses for the technology.”

“We appreciate the significance of this new approval,” said Michael Cohen, president, Industrial SkyWorks. “We regard this as an opportunity to help define best practices and set the standard for nighttime inspection applications. Working with Aeyron Labs will help demonstrate to the FAA and the broader UAS industry that unmanned aerial data capture continues to have many benefits for the commercial market.”

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Drone hit British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport - Charles D'Alberto

Charles D’Alberto

Drone hit British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport 

A plane approaching Heathrow Airport is believed to have hit a drone before it landed safely, the Metropolitan Police have said.

The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 BST with 132 passengers and five crew on board.

After landing, the pilot reported an object – believed to be a drone – had struck the front of the Airbus A320
.
Aviation police based at Heathrow have launched an investigation.

Police said no arrests have been made.

Are drones dangerous or harmless fun?

Drones pose ‘real threat’ to civil aviation

A British Airways spokesman said: “Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight.”

The airline will give the police “every assistance with their investigation”, the spokesman added.
The incident follows a warning earlier this year by the head of the International Air Transport Association that drones flown by the general public are “a real and growing threat” to civilian aircraft.

Tony Tyler called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur.

In January, the UK Air Proximity Board – which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace – said there had been four serious near-misses at UK airports in August and September.

The category A incidents were reported at Stansted, Heathrow, London City and Manchester airports.

• 27 August 2015 – A DO328 aircraft flew within 50ft of a drone while approaching Manchester Aiport at 2,800ft
• 13 September 2015 – A drone flew over the top of a B737 aircraft while at 4,000ft, missing it by about 5m, shortly after it left Stansted
• 13 September 2015 – A silver drone with a “balloon-like” centre missed an E170 aircraft by about 20m, while the plane was approaching London City Airport over the Thames
• 22 September 2015 – A “quadcopter-type drone” missed the right-hand side of a B777 plane by about 25m while at 2,000ft after it left Heathrow Airport

Posted By Charles D'Alberto

 

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Volocopter performs first manned flights, changing the helicopter world - Charles D'Alberto

Charles D'Alberto

The multicopter developer e-volo has announced the first manned flights of its personal aerial vehicle, the Volocopter VC200.

 

The two-seat Volocopter VC200, which has already made more than 100 test flights in an unmanned configuration, received authorization to fly as an ultralight aircraft from German aviation authorities in February 2016. The first manned flight of the multicopter was performed by e-volo managing director Alexander Zosel on March 30, 2016, on an airfield in Southern Germany.

 

In a press release, Zosel described the flight as “totally awesome” and “seriously unbelievable.”

 

“It is definitely a sublime feeling to lift off, fly the first few meters, and then actually take my hand off the joystick and think that, yeah, it’s really as if I’m standing on the ground, and then I look down and there are 20-25 meters beneath me,” he stated.

 

Designed to be “so safe and easy to fly, literally anyone can command it,” the Volocopter is piloted one-handedly with a single joystick that incorporates an altitude control thumb lever. The aircraft holds its position automatically when the pilot releases the control, a feature Zosel demonstrated by removing his hand from the joystick to applaud his team during the premiere manned flight.

E-volo managing director Alexander Zosel gives a thumbs-up to his team during his first manned flight of the Volocopter VC200. E-volo Photo

According to e-volo, the all-electric aircraft underwent extensive safety testing prior to Zosel’s flight, including tests in which propulsion motors and batteries were switched off during flight, and wrong information from simulated “defective” sensors was fed into the flight control system. Unmanned flights were also carried out in turbulent weather conditions.

 

E-volo’s next goal is to receive type certification for the aircraft, and Zosel’s flight marks the beginning of a three-phase manned test program for the VC200. In the first phase, e-volo will conduct low altitude flights at a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour (13 knots). The second phase will involve medium-altitude flights at speeds up to 50 km/h (27 knots), while the third phase will validate the VC200 at higher altitudes and throughout its full speed range, up to 100 km/h (54 knots).

 

Technology assistance for the VC200 has been provided by German drone manufacturer Ascending Technologies, which was recently acquired by Intel Corporation. Through the shareholding position of Ascending Technologies, Intel Capital has now become a direct shareholder in e-volo.

 

“Intel congratulates e-volo on this accomplishment,” stated Josh Walden, senior vice president and general manager of the New Technology Group at Intel. “Technology developed by Ascending Technologies assists in the flight controls, motor electronics and key elements that extend multi-rotor UAV technology to this new type of aircraft. We look forward to aiding the development of more manned and unmanned vehicles in the future.”

Forget helicopters, the US Army is going with real-life hoverbikes - Charles D'Alberto

The US Department of Defense has struck a deal with UK-based Malloy Aeronautics to develop and build hoverbike vehicles in the States.

Malloy's current Hoverbike prototype, which is a one-third scale model, is meant to act like a helicopter, but better. It's engineered without any of the problems associated with a typical helicopter's design. A hoverbike, for instance, has guarded rotors so that it won't dice up humans or other things.

It's also more cost effective, maneuverable in tight spaces, and has options to operate it autonomously or with a human pilot. Malloy is working with US-based Survice, which specialises in defense research and development, to actually develop the hoverbike in Maryland, according to Reuters.

The developers of the hoverbike said the vehicle's low cost and size makes it ideal for operations such as search and rescue missions, first-responder situations, and getting into confined spaces. Their scale-version prototype, which you can see in the video below, includes a humanoid figure with a head-mounted camera.

Malloy and Survice will first develop a full-scale version of their protoype, then construct new prototypes that meet military requirements, and finally, they'll be able to develop hoverbikes for the US Army, which will be used as a multi-role tactical reconnaissance vehicles that support both military and humanitarian missions.

The Department of Defense is interested in Hoverbike technology, Reuters said, because it can support "multiple roles".

ThunderB UAV carries out 25.5h test flight - Charles D'Alberto

BlueBird's ThunderB tactical unmanned air vehicle performed a record 25.5h flight on 17 March, as part of a demon ... http://v.iew.im/Amnqqa

Japan develops unmanned helicopter for use in agricultural industry - Charles D'Alberto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV5Eay-eX74Yamaha Motor has decided to design an unmanned helicopter 'Fazer' ... http://v.iew.im/APbuJv

Vidant helicopter’s close call with a drone is catching pilots’ attention - Charles D'Alberto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd0YUO8GjTwGREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) – Pilots’ concerns over drones in thei ... http://v.iew.im/A5e89j

Israeli engineers made a helicopter-hovercraft drone that can carry more than 1,100 pounds - Charles D'Alberto