Our newsletter reflects the focus of Akin’s cross-practice autonomous systems and advanced mobility team on developments in the regulatory, policy, trade, intellectual property, and cybersecurity and privacy spaces....more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill is a crucial piece of legislation that affects the safety and efficiency of air travel in the United States. It is an important, multi-year tool for Congress to...more
Now that the UAS flight over people and remote ID rules are in effect, the pathways are opening up for more complex, and potentially dangerous, UAS operations. The FAA, however, is not the only governmental body concerned...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Dec. 28, 2020, released two Final Rules intended to accelerate the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – or drones – into the national airspace system. The first Final...more
Federal investigators are investigating a helicopter crash that occurred on Daniel Island (near Charleston, South Carolina) that may have been caused by a drone. The helicopter pilot reported to investigators that he crashed...more
Understanding FAA & NTSB Drone Accident Reporting Requirements - When a corporate drone crashes, it can be one of the worst-case scenarios for owners who rely on UAS technology to conduct a wide-array of business...more
New Law Goes into Effect August 29, 2016 - After many months, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued regulations towards integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, also called Drones) into the national...more
This edition of the Cozen O’Connor Aviation Regulatory Update includes looming revisions to the Visa Waiver Program, DOT’s plans for an additional round of new regulations on disabled passenger-related issues, the FAA’s new...more
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently released new guidance directed to local and state law enforcement describing how they can help the FAA find and stop the operators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from...more
In This Issue: - Update on Developments in California Drone Law - One Community Gets Relief from Aircraft Noise - California Once Again Relinquishes Clean Air Act Enforcement Responsibility to the...more
The NTSB issued a decision on November 17, holding that drones are aircraft and subject to the code of federal regulations that govern aircraft. In Michael P. Huerta, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration v. Raphael...more
On November 18, 2014, in a unanimous decision, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are: “aircraft” within the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) statutory and...more
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have operated within an uncertain legal framework while players across a rapidly growing range of commercial industries — from energy to rail transport to forestry to all types of...more
Order reverses an earlier ruling by an Administrative Law Judge in a closely watched case that challenged the FAA’s authority to regulate drones - On November 18, 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)...more
The National Transportation Safety Board ("NTSB") today issued a decision affirming the jurisdiction of the FAA to regulate unmanned aerial vehicles. The NTSB found that the statutory definition of an "aircraft" included in...more
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has overturned an administrative ruling in favor of an aerial photographer, upholding the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) determination that unmanned aerial systems...more
Technology has rendered irrelevant the longstanding debate over whether good fences make good neighbors. Authorities in New Jersey recently arrested a man after he shot down a neighbor’s drone that was flying above his...more
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)—also commonly referred to as drones and the systems used to operate them—are ubiquitous in the American consciousness today, even though for most of us our experiences with UAS may be limited to...more
The next time you go for a long hike in a national forest with no cell phone service, you might want to take a drone with you so that you can send for help when you break your leg, dehydrate, and need help. ...more
A victory for a small commercial unmanned aerial vehicle operator demonstrates the Federal Aviation Administration’s struggle to keep pace with new technologies. On March 6, 2014, an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of...more