UAV News Talk – Drone News, eVTOLs, UAS Policy & Air Mobility

UAS test sites update: Virginia gets FAA COA’s, Maryland starting, New Jersey delayed, Nevada moving slowly. Also, hobby UAV’s you can buy, UAS in the Netherlands, and a possible drone near miss. News The Drone You Should Buy Right Now The Verge offers up their top five recommended hobby drones. These range across the spectrum in size, price, and capability. FAA Announces Virginia Tech UAS Test Si...

NUAIR becomes the fifth FAA UAS test site to receive a COA, DJI introduces a new model, regulations in the EU and Singapore, North Dakota and Yellowstone in the news, businesses embrace UAVs in Charlotte, and how long until we see deliveries by drone. News NUAIR Cleared to Begin First Flights of Unmanned Aircraft Systems The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance ( NUAIR Alliance ) a...

Aerial photography in real estate, autonomous lighting for photographs, nano drones for situational awareness, a new UAV market size study, video selfies by quadcopter, a U.S. “no drone zone” map, taking aerial video of wildfires, and university professors speak to the FAA. The News NRT bans drone photography in northeastern US Attorneys for NRT LLC, a large real estate brokerage, sent letters to...

Guest Parker Gyokeres owns  Propellerheads Aerial Photography  and produces professional aerial videos. We talk about that business in general, and in particular about the video of a recent wedding that is getting attention from the press and the FAA. This story offers UAS regulatory issues, safety of flight issues, and even some good old fashioned politics. These are the facts: Sean Mal...

Martha Stewart’s farm via DJI Phantom, UAS competitions, Amazon.com petitions the FAA, and a utility company to start drone testing. News: Amazing Aerial Photos Of My Farm One of Martha Stewart’s security employees took a tour of Martha’s farm with his new DJI Phantom. On her blog, she posted photos taken by the quadcopter, much to the delight of her fans. Is that commercial use by Martha Stewart...

3D drone printers, continuously airborne UAVs, hacking drones, flying UAS over airports and sports events, a petition to the FAA, and mapping mud a landslide with a hexacopter. The News BAE Systems Unveils Concepts of On-Board Aircraft 3D Printers Able to Print Incredible UAVs During a Mission The BAE Systems 25-year outlook includes technology for “on demand” UAV production, from inside an aircra...

UAVs taking off in China, aerial video and privacy, a map showing UAS regs by State, FAA subpoenas realtors, FAA might not make their 2015 deadline, and drone poetry. The News Drone Hobbyists Taking off in China Twenty-three-year old Jin Xing is representative of the enthusiasm for UAVs that is growing in China. He’s created the Butterfly Aerial Photography Workshop, a business he operates fr...

While at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s  Become a Pilot Day , David and Max were fortunate to have a conversation with Dr. Evan Ulrich about his “RoboSeed,” a monocopter UAV. We talked with Evan about the design, how it works, the control method, and future applications. Open up his  RoboSeed  website or visit the  RoboSeed YouTube channel , have a look, then l...

FAA defines Model Aircraft, UAV’s banned from US National Parks, fourth UAS test site operational, Washington Post study of crashing UAVs, a prize for your drone video, the latest news on UAVs in Brazil and Australia, and CNN wants to prove news drones are safe. The News FAA Claims Authority Over Unsafe Model Aircraft Flights The FAA has published a policy notice stating that the FAA Modernization...

While at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s  Become a Pilot Day , David and Max spoke with  Roger Connor , who curates the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In this recorded conversation with Roger, we talk about the history of UAV’s and how the Museum selects aircraft for display. The Museum exhibits include a number of  Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , including the ...

The third FAA test site goes live, UAV’s to compete at Reno Air Races, drones spying at the World Cup, watching swim competition through the eyes of a quadcopter, hockey fans celebrate their victory by smashing a quadcopter, TV coverage of American football by drone, and mixing manned and unmanned flights in Japan. The News FAA: Nevada unmanned aircraft systems test site goes live UAS test site nu...

The LAPD is evaluating drones, quadcopter pilot assaulted over privacy concerns, a novel delivery by drone concept, Switzerland picks the Hermes, RQ-21A Blackjack deployment in Afghanistan, and the U.S. Navy tests an Aerostar. The News LAPD Chief Beck to Vet Drones Before Use The Los Angeles Police Department has received two  Draganflyer X6  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from the Seattle Pol...

The movie industry petitions FAA for UAS exemption, UAS impact on traditional helicopter businesses, commercial UAVs in Canada, drug smuggling with drones, celebrities from history and drones, the video of the week, and listener feedback. The News FAA May Exempt Film Industry from UAV Rules The FAA is considering granting seven professional aerial cinematography companies an exemption that would a...

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2014 conference and trade show, a drone narrowly misses a commercial flight, and hack-proof UAS software from DARPA. Guest:  Bob Schmidt, President,  UAV Propulsion Tech . AUVSI’s  Unmanned Systems  2014 conference and trade show was held in Orlando, Florida May 12-15, 2014. Bob attended and he offers his perspectives on the event. Follow Bob...

UAS regulation proposals from CASA in Australia and from a listener in the U.S., a “Ten best drones” list, NASA testing sense and avoid with a Predator, and bright job prospects for those with UAS skills. The News: NPRM 1309OS – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Australia’s ‘low risk’ drone strike stance could bring down airliners Certified UAS operators in Australia hits 100 The Australian CASA r...

David flys a multicopter, an Iranian RQ-170 clone, Embry-Riddle creates an unmanned masters program, Italy looks to build a UAV school, a US Airways flight encounters a UAV, Northrop Grumman and Yamaha team up, and Parrot has a new FPV drone. David’s First Flight Parker Gyokeres from  Propellerheads Aerial Photography  gives David the opportunity to fly a hexacopter, an  AGL Hobbies...

The Alaska UAS test site stands up, the X-37B space drone reaches 500 days in orbit, the National Park Service says no drones but archaeologists say yes, a drone delivery gone wrong, and armed drones for everyone. The News: Fairbanks flight opens unmanned aircraft test site The FAA issued a two-year Certificate of Authorization (COA) to the Alaska UAS Test Site. They’re using the Aeryon Scout for...

Lockheed Martin gets into sUAS, Texas EquuSearch files suit, drones for weather forecasting and wildlife protection, a fixed wing VTOL drone, an Optionally Manned UH-60, a North Carolina UAS law, drone journalism goes indoors, and an unmanned R&D forecast. The News: Lockheed Martin Marks Significant Milestone in Research & Development for Unmanned Technologies Lockheed Martin is advancing...

A UAS Test Site receives an FAA Certificate of Authorization, Spain bans commercial drone use, a drone tracker kit, drones for burglers, a survey says Americans favor targeting terrorists with drones, and an update on the FAA v. Pirker appeal. The News: Press Release – FAA Announces First UAS Test Site Operational On April 21, the FAA announced that the UAS Test Site operated by the North Dakota D...

Phantom firmware update addresses safety concerns, FAA files appeal brief in Trappy case, a search and rescue team fights to use quadcopters, 33 organizations appeal to the FAA, machine guns versus drones, Google beats out Facebook for atmospheric satellites, and a drone pilot is charged with a felony. The News: Chinese manufacturer programs Phantom drones with no-fly zones to protect Austral...

The X-47B UCAS-D team wins the Collier Trophy, drones and Bluefins and the search for Malaysia Flight 370, the UK CAA convicts a drone pilot, and listener feedback. The News: Legendary Collier Trophy Awarded to X-47B Team The 2013 Robert J. Collier Trophy has been  awarded to the X-47B  Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) team by the National Aeronautic Association. The tea...

An FAA Center of Excellence for UAS, 3D printing a drone, the industry pressures FAA on UAS regs, drone privacy, a thought-controlled quadcopter, drones used for and against hunters, anti-drone legislation, Korean drones, and who needs drones when you have gulls? The News: Notice of Intent to Establish the FAA Center of Excellence (COE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Within the next year, the...

A near miss between a UAV and a crop duster, a new social network for the multi-rotor community, UAVs that survey cemeteries, no beer delivery by drone in the UK, and a red hot video of the week. The News: Victorian mine drone in near miss with aircraft The  Australian Transport Safety Bureau  (ATSB) has issued a final report that says that a  Sensefly eBee 178  UAV came within...

Paul Braun and Dan Frye tell us about  Taking Autism to the Sky  (TATTS) where children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) build and fly a small UAS. This program helps the children build confidence, gives them world perspectives, and develops interest and ability in skill sets that may help them eventually find and hold productive jobs. With April being  Autism Awareness month ,...

An analysis of the Raphael Pirker v FAA appeal, an offensive quadcopter and conservationists look to utilize UAVs. The News: FAA To Appeal NTSB Finding On UAS Case An NTSB Administrative Law Judge dismissed the charges against a UAV pilot for flying a commercial mission, but the  FAA intends to appeal  the decision. We talk about what that means to the sUAS industry and  where the a...