Calling all Thin Mints fans! Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies can now be delivered right to your doorstep – by drone… IF you live in Christiansburg, Virginia. The town has been a testing arena for commercial drone delivery by...more
This week, Kroger and Drone Express announced a pilot program offering grocery delivery by autonomous drones....more
Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), a federally-designated drone test site, and Lee Vinsel, an assistant professor of science, technology, and society in Virginia Tech’s College of Liberal Arts and Human...more
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Remote ID rule for drones (Part 89) became effective on April 21, 2021. Part 89 will likely increase commercial drone operations while promoting safety and security....more
United Parcel Service (UPS) announced this week that it will test electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) for package delivery. UPS purchased 10 eVTOL from Beta Technologies (Beta), which it plans to test for...more
Last week, the Executive Order on Protecting the United States from Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) expanded the U.S.-China drone controversy to North Korea, Iran, and Russia....more
1/28/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
China ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Executive Orders ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Imports ,
Iran ,
National Security ,
North Korea ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Procurement Guidelines ,
Russia ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Let’s take a look at the lessons learned in 2020 and where the drone industry might be heading in 2021....more
Easy Aerial, a provider of autonomous drone-based monitoring solutions, deployed its first autonomous drone security system at the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California this week. This system will provide better...more
Walmart announced that it will begin experimenting with self-driving cars in a pilot program with General Motors-backed Cruise (a tech start-up with electric, self-driving cars) to deliver groceries and other products to...more
While drone deliveries have been tested for medical supplies, e-commerce/package delivery, and even pizza right from the oven, there are other, seemingly endless possibilities for delivery by drone. Recently, Reliable...more
Last week, the Australian Department of Defence announced that it will begin research and development for the use of swarms of tiny autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) (i.e., underwater drones) to detect and clear naval...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been granting drone flight waivers for certain restricted flights to help during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the FAA says that it is unlikely the waivers will extend beyond current...more
Three companies – HeatSpring, Little Arms, and Unmanned Experts – joined forces to create a “Drone Pilot Boot Camp + FAA Part 107 Exam Prep.” This new offering is an unmanned aircraft commercial operations course designed...more
Last week, a medical delivery drone flying from the People’s Hospital of Xinchang County to the disease control center there successfully completed the air transport of needed medical quarantine supplies and patient samples...more
This week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued proposed safety standards for specific drones for package deliveries. This is a big step toward allowing routine package delivery by drones....more
2/7/2020
/ Airspace ,
Comment Period ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Public Comment ,
Public Safety ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Safety Standards ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is informing drone operators of the restrictions on drone flights before, during and after Super Bowl LIV on Sunday,...more
1/30/2020
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Events ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
Football ,
Public Safety ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Safety Standards ,
Sports ,
Super Bowl ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) from industry experts on unmanned aircraft systems used for letter or parcel delivery. USPS says that it is merely investigating the...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released its unmanned aircraft system (UAS or drone) remote identification Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Proposed Rule) on December 31, 2019. This is a huge step toward the...more
1/10/2020
/ Airspace ,
Comment Period ,
Commercial Use ,
Drones ,
Electronic Identification ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
NPRM ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Self-Identification ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
This week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced more details about its new recreational drone flyer test, which will be an opportunity to educate recreational flyers about the rules of flying a drone in...more
In a letter submitted last month to the chairmen and ranking members of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its aviation subcommittee, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association...more
12/6/2019
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Drones ,
Federal Pilot Programs ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Privacy Concerns ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that by 2023 there will be more than 835,000 commercial drones in the United States. As the use of drones for many commercial purposes (such as aerial inspections, utility...more
Last week, UPS and CVS completed the first commercial medical prescription drone delivery in the United States under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program. The deliveries were made in North Carolina via a cable that...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted UPS Flight Forward, Inc. (UPS) a Part 135 air carrier and operator certification for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drone) delivery. The certification was granted...more
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) has been delayed – again. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking...more
10/7/2019
/ Airspace ,
Commercial Use ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Drones ,
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ,
NPRM ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Self-Identification ,
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Recently, Reno, Nevada-based Flirtey introduced its new delivery drone – the Flirtey Eagle. This new drone was created to deliver packages to customers in less than 10 minutes, operate in 95 percent of potential wind speeds...more