The FAA has granted the New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York approval to fly UAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) within the first segment of New York's 50-Mile Unmanned Aircraft System Corridor, which is currently under development.
Considered the first “true” BVLOS authority granted to the FAA-designated test site, the approval will allow UAS testing to be conducted without the need for ground-based observers.
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
uAvionix acquires avionics startup AeroVonics
uAvionix has made its first foray into advanced digital cockpit displays for the General Aviation (GA) market with the acquisition of Albuquerque, New Mexico-based avionics startup AeroVonics LLC.
Through the acquisition, uAvionix will integrate the AV-20S Multi-Function Display (MFD) and the AV-30 Primary Flight Display (PFD) products into its existing product line.
“I just can’t tell you how ecstatic we are to bring the expertly executed AeroVonics technology into this new era of uAvionix. These products are truly best in class, and as standalone products they are exciting.” says CEO Paul Beard.
UPS Flight Forward awarded first full Part 135 Standard certification to operate UAS airline
UPS Flight Forward, the subsidiary of UPS, has been awarded the first full Part 135 Standard certification from the FAA to operate a drone airline.
North Dakota UAS IPP, Xcel Energy receive waivers to conduct wider range of UAS flights without visual observers
On Friday, Aug. 16, Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota announced that the FAA has issued waivers for North Dakota’s UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) and electric services company Xcel Energy, which will allow each entity to conduct a wider range of UAS flights without a chase plane or other visual observers.
“These updated waivers for the North Dakota IPP and Xcel Energy are a big win, and with them in place, companies across the country should recognize that our state is the location of choice for advanced UAS operations,” Senator Hoeven says.
KDOT IPP team to conduct landmark BVLOS UAS flight leveraging only onboard detect-and-avoid systems
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) team has been granted permission to conduct the first ever beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flight that utilizes only onboard detect-and-avoid systems.
According to the KDOT team, this is the first-ever FAA authorized Part 107 operation to fly without visual observers or ground-based radar in place, as the flight will leverage Iris Automation’s onboard collision avoidance system, Casia.
UPS applies for Part 135 certification to operate commercial UAS flights
UPS has applied for Part 135 certification to conduct commercial UAS flights in the UPS network under a subsidiary business called UPS Flight Forward Inc.
A recently incorporated business, UPS Flight Forward could receive Part 135 certification as early as this year, which would lay the groundwork for UPS having one of the first fully-certified, revenue-generating drone operations in the United States.
When approved, the certification will lay the foundation for UAS operations beyond an operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS), as well as for flights that occur during the day or night.
Task force interim report on drone incursions at airports calls for remote ID, agency-industry cooperation
The Blue Ribbon Task Force of UAS Mitigation at Airports, announced at AUVSI's Xponential trade show this year, has released an interim report on its work and says the remote identification of drones is a critical first step to airport security.
Woolpert receives approval from PennDOT to use UAS for state projects
International architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm Woolpert has become the first provider to receive approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to use UAS for state projects.
On July 2, Woolpert had surveying, mapping and geospatial professionals complete PennDOT's UAS training, which is part of the agency’s certification process. UAS operators are also required to obtain a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate through the FAA.
NDDOT receives four-year waiver to operate UAS over people
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has announced that it has received a four-year waiver from the FAA to operate UAS over people.
According to NDDOT, this is the first time that a North Dakota state agency has received a waiver to routinely conduct UAS operations over people. The approval was for a DJI Mavic 2 series equipped with a ParaZero SafeAir parachute recovery system.
OSU's Unmanned Systems Research Institute receives first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms
Oklahoma State University (OSU) has announced that its Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) has received the first FAA authorization to fly fixed wing UAS in swarms within the national airspace.
With this flight authorization, a single pilot, along with visual observers for safety considerations, will be allowed to operate a swarm of up to 20 fixed wing aircraft.
According to OSU, the configuration that its researchers have developed creates a “swarm of swarms” where groups of UAS fly within smaller flocks as part of a larger swarm, communicating with a local group leader which then coordinates flights with the overall swarm formation.
