sUAS News

The recent 2018 amendments to the Air Navigation Order will come into effect on the 30th July, making it illegal to operate any unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) above 400ft. The UK model flying associations (BMFA, SAA, LMA & FPVUK) have been working in close collaboration in ongoing negotiations with the Department for Transport (DfT) and […]

The drone industry may be on the verge of transforming air travel to some degree, but I sincerely doubt to the degree the media is telling you. There are many reasons that the innovation is moving slower than the Silicon Valley people would like. In this article, we will briefly focus on the main aspects […]

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) concluded performance testing of the arresting hook Hold Down Damper (HDD) for its proposed MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling aircraft for the U.S. Navy. GA-ASI worked in collaboration with a team from GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business unit in Helmond, Netherlands. Fokker is slated to supply the arresting hook for the […]

There are just 100 days to go until the most exciting event on the international drone-racing calendar – the first ever FAI World Drone Racing Championships – kicks off in Shenzhen, China. Being held at the Shenzhen Universiade Center Stadium from November 1 to 4, 2018, the four-day event will bring together top-flight drone racers […]

UK based flight control specialists Callen-Lenz and California’s Lynx Software Technologies, the world leader in open, mixed criticality and secure system development, today announced a strategic teaming to address the fast-developing Air Mobility, Personal Air Vehicle and Certified Unmanned Air System markets around the globe. Lynx’s LynxSecure Safety Bundle (LSB) and Callen-Lenz’ development of flight […]

Siegen, Germany – As part of rapid global sales growth, Microdrones has completed the first phase of an ambitious expansion of its facilities globally. The integrated drone solutions provider has added a new 2080 sqm. (22,000 sq. ft.) facility in Siegen, Germany, as well as a satellite office in Canéjan, France. Sixty Microdrones employees will […]

Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) today announced Rockwell Collins (NYSE:COL) as the newest Iridium Certus service provider for the aviation industry. Rockwell Collins will be adding the service to its comprehensive suite of aircraft connectivity applications for commercial, government and ARINCDirectSMbusiness customers. In addition to being a service provider, Rockwell Collins is also a value added manufacturer(VAM) […]

Congress has provided the FAA with exclusive authority to regulate aviation safety, the efficiency of the navigable airspace, and air traffic control, among other things. State and local governments are not permitted to regulate any type of aircraft operations, such as flight paths or altitudes, or the navigable airspace. However, these powers are not the […]

By Joanna L. Steidle I am an FAA Part 107 certified remote pilot who recently started a small business, Drone X Images. My drone has become an entity in herself, named “Spacecat”. I want her to be an asset to the community, locals are just starting to get to know her, asking where she will […]

Nesta’s Challenge Prize Centre, in partnership with Innovate UK, has today released its findings from the first phase of the Flying High programme, outlining the opportunities and challenges for implementing drone technology in UK cities. Flying High comprises a collaborative engagement with five UK city-regions chosen earlier this year (Bradford, London, Preston, Southampton and the […]

Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”) announced today that it has entered into a five-year partnership with MartinUAV, LLC (“MartinUAV”). MartinUAV will incorporate Persistent’s Wave Relay® Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) technology into the V-BAT, a small vertical takeoff-and-land (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). “Persistent is proud to have been selected out of the many commercially available […]

Lausanne, Switzerland 20 July 2018 – FAI, World Air Sports Federation, and Australian giant drone racing team Freespace Drone Racing have agreed to extend their coordinated efforts in the development of drone racing as a global sport. The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding that recognises the significant progress made by each party and […]

Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced that Veenadhari Kollipara of Interlake High School in Bellevue, WA is the winner of the 14th annual Ricoh Sustainable Development Award (RSDA). For her winning invention, an end-to-end solution that lowers the barrier of entry for precision agriculture, she is awarded a $10,000 scholarship. In its 14th consecutive year, the […]

MDA, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.), (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), today announced that a contract was signed between its recently acquired Neptec UK Ltd. (Neptec) company and Effective Space, the UK company pioneering last-mile logistics in space, for the supply of a space flight LIDAR and infrared camera for its […]

SkyX is at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow – #FIA18 – one of the two biggest air shows on the planet. (The other is Le Bourget, and is held outside of Paris on alternating years.) This show features all of the major aerospace players: Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin – and many more. (Plus, suppliers of […]

Plexidrone the Canadian darling of the crowdfunded drone world raised more than $2 million dollars in backing on December 1st 2015. At the time it looked like a very advanced platform. It is not uncommon for crowdfunded projects to slip on delivery times, in fact, it’s almost expected. One of our first callout’s of Plexidrone […]

Launching with exclusive MultiGP tracks, the most advanced and configurable physics, and chances to win a spot in the DRL 2019 Season, pilots will have more chances to practice and compete with the world’s greatest pilots. DRL is beginning to import MultiGP tracks in the latest feature update for the DRL SIM. Stay tuned for […]

In celebration of Intel’s 50th anniversary, the company flew 2,018 Intel® Shooting Star™ drones over its Folsom, California, facility, setting a new Guinness World Records™ title for the most unmanned aerial vehicles airborne simultaneously. “Several years ago, we had an idea of flying drones forming the Intel logo over our corporate headquarters, and here we are […]

Lone Star UAS Center of Excellence & Innovation (LSUASC) has selected the Penguin C unmanned aerial system, manufactured by UAV Factory, to provide low-altitude reconnaissance, storm damage, and other aerial information. The Penguin C UAS was selected due to the quality of design, engineering and construction, payload versatility, endurance, long-range performance, and value. LSUASC will […]

The international Catalonia DroneCamp 2018 taking place near Barcelona, from October 22nd to November 10 is meant for those who are thinking on releasing new entrepreneurial projects related to the Drone Field. The initiative, funded by the European Social Fund through the Generalitat of Catalonia, calls 20 world wide entrepreneurs who want to learn about […]

Dubai-based Falcon Drones Technology FZ-LLC and Kenya-based cargo airline Astral Aviation have today signed a letter of intent for the airline to acquire two Lucas-F250 drones with an option to purchase an additional 10 in 2019. The letter of intent states that Astral Aviation will be the exclusive operator of the Lucas F-250 drone in […]

The UK’s world-leading aerospace sector will be propelled into a new era of cleaner, greener flight through industry and government investment, the Business and Energy Secretary announced today at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow. From the total investment, £255 million – supported by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) – […]

RUSTA partners with ARC Aerial Imaging to deliver market leading 2-day SUAS business development course in Drone Aerial Imaging for Mapping and Surveying. Andy Carmen Managing Director of ARC Aerial Imaging will be delivering the course at RUSTA’s Head Quarters in Lincoln. Sion Roberts Managing Director of RUSTA and Andy Carmen are combining RUSTAs facilities with Andy’s […]

Tails for Predator B Series Aircraft to be Built in the UK FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW – July 2018 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) and GKN Aerospace have declared their intent to collaborate on composite tails for GA-ASI’s Predator® B Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) series via a Letter of Interest (LOI) signed here today. “We are pleased […]

Elbit Systems commences global marketing of the HermesTM 900 StarLiner, a powerful and trend setting Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that features adverse weather capabilities and is fully compliant with NATO’s Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4671, qualifying it to be safely integrated into civilian airspace and fly in the same environment with manned […]

Collaboration to focus on next-generation airspace management for the safe integration of autonomous air vehiclesNewly-established Boeing NeXt organization to lead future commercial mobility solutions and bring flight closer to home FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 17, 2018 Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced it is collaborating with artificial intelligence (AI) technology leader, SparkCognition, to deliver unmanned aircraft system traffic […]

From civil contracting, to land acquisition and development – Abax Contracting Pty Ltd (Abax) specialises in civil infrastructure-related projects in and around the greater Sydney Metropolitan Area. Established in 1968, Abax actively services a multitude of clients and ventures thanks to its broad business focus, from civil contracting, to land acquisition and development, specialising in […]

Streamlined Application and 30-Minute Response Improve Unlocking Process DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, is strengthening its commitment to enterprise drone users with new improvements to its geofencing system. Professional drone pilots with authorisation to fly in sensitive locations can now use a streamlined application process to receive unlocking codes […]

The Volante Vision Concept is Aston Martin’s exploration into personal air mobility. Produced in partnership with Cranfield Aerospace Solutions, Cranfield University and Rolls-Royce, the concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities demonstrates Aston Martin’s forward-looking design ingenuity. Air travel will be a crucial part in the future of transportation and the Volante Vision Concept […]

L3 Technologies has acquired Latitude Engineering, a unique unmanned aircraft systems company that has developed a family of commercial and military Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) UAVs based on their Hybrid Quadrotor (HQ) technology. L3 Latitude’s innovative unmanned vehicles expand our company’s capability and provide a more affordable solution in the growing UAV market. […]

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has selected Mayor Wade O. Troxell, Ph.D., of the City of Fort Collins, Colorado, to serve on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Drone Advisory Committee (DAC) which convenes today for the first time under its new two-year charter in Santa Clara, California. The DAC represents a cross-section of technology and aviation […]

Intel’s partnership with the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation (CFCHC) to protect and preserve the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China is underway. And experts from Wuhan University LIESMARS have been added to the project, leveraging Intel technologies to preserve the wall more efficiently and safely than before. This is the next […]

Rolls-Royce has unveiled a concept electric vertical take-off and landing (EVTOL) vehicle at the Farnborough International Airshow 2018. The design could be adapted for personal transport, public transport, logistics and military applications and is based upon technologies that already exist or are currently under development. It could take to the skies as soon as the […]

In the UK the Civil Aviation Authority has issued guidance that all model aircraft/drone operators should read. At the end of this month 400′ is a hard ceiling for model/RPA operations and CAP1687: Air Navigation (Amendment) Order 2018 -Guidance for small unmanned aircraft users On 30 May 2018, the United Kingdom Government published an amendment […]

In an effort to increase flexibility for its customers throughout the world, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) announced today that MQ-9B will be able to utilize both the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and European Galileo satellite constellation for its navigation systems. The baseline MQ-9B was originally designed to include a triplex navigation system based […]

RUAS are delighted to announce a new training partnership with the Royal Artillery, the firepower to the British Army, to allow their unmanned aircraft pilots to gain the CAA-approved remote pilot accreditation. RUAS and the Royal Artillery have worked together to create a short-track course for military personnel already flying drones in Service. Whilst there […]

Goodwood, UK – Friday 13 July 2018: Today, the Vodafone XBlades Drone – the ‘Wingcopter XBR’* – has set a new drone speed world record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world’s greatest celebration of motorsport and car culture, which celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year. The Wingcopter XBR, piloted by World Champion drone racing pilot, […]

In a deliberate move to create a wider competitive advantage for its flagship unmanned helicopter, UMS SKELDAR announces the launch of the V-200B, a comprehensive modification of the industry’s pioneering mid-sized heavy fuel engine VTOL, in tandem with a production drive in Sweden to support its worldwide marketing programme targeting maritime customers DATE 12 JULY […]

Dedrone, the market and technology leader in airspace security, announced today the release of Dedrone Cloud. The new platform further advances Dedrone’s offerings, and enables smooth deployment of the Dedrone solution, accelerating the process for organizations to develop a threat analysis of their airspace. Dedrone Cloud streamlines and accelerates drone detection technology installations, without requiring on-site IT infrastructure or […]

OPENER, Inc., a pioneer of aero vehicles for consumer travel, today revealed BlackFly; the world’s first ultralight all-electric fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. BlackFly is a single-seat Personal Aerial Vehicle (PAV) designed and built for a new world of three-dimensional transportation. BlackFly is simple to master and requires no formal licensing (in USA) […]

The notion that commercial droners and existing NAS users never expected the FAA to enforce their sUAS policy is ludicrous. To espouse it undermines the FAA’s credibility and justification for public funding. Then there is a slap in the face to the industry folks who have put years of time and energy into the […]

UAVOS Inc., a Mountain View-based company specialized in unmanned solutions, has completed flight tests of the unmanned SAT-i aircraft powered by the Sun, designed to perform monitoring and aerial photography during daylight hours. The new unmanned aircraft has demonstrated high performance, successfully completing a non-stop 10-hour mission for aerial photography of the surface relief, having […]

Aviation Australia has partnered with one of the premier aerospace colleges in the United States of America, Northland Community & Technical College (NCTC), to deliver the first Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) maintenance training program in Australia. The courses are designed to educate and up-skill qualified aircraft mechanics into UAS maintenance technicians. The course will educate students […]

VStar Systems, a privately held aerospace and defense systems company based in San Diego, has received approval to export technical data to foreign nations by the International Trade in Arms Regulations (ITAR), which governs the export of military technology. So far, VStar has received approval to demonstrate its Communication Intelligence (COMINT) system in India and engage in […]

Today at 6:51 p.m. (GMT+1) a Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) made history as it landed at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK and became the first MALE RPA to successfully complete a trans-Atlantic flight. The GA-ASI-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian took off from […]

South African bank ABSA has hired Intel Shooting Stars to fly over Johannesburg later today. It is to reveal their new logo. I have a great deal of respect for the Ascending Technologies crew responsible for the design and production of these shows. Clever people making it work and Intel bought them out. How Intel […]

By Lt. j. g. Caroline Zotti, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) — USS Coronado (LCS 4) and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VX-1) completed the first comprehensive Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the MQ-8C Fire Scout, June 29. Results from this IOT&E will inform decision-makers on […]

Apellix, the safety partner for the technological revolution, is proud to announce that has received its second patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Patent Number US 10,011,352 is for a Mobile base station and umbilical cabling and tethering (UCAT) assist system. Said Robert Dahlstrom, Apellix founder and CEO: “The umbilical cabling and […]

The International Drone Racing Association (IDRA) has named the Inspired Flight IF700 as the Official Commercial Drone for the remainder of the 2018 Season. As the world’s largest association for recreational and commercial pilots, with hundreds of members on every continent, the IDRA continues to build partnerships with commercial drone manufacturers, organizations, and training programs […]

Today at 12:48 p.m. CDT a Medium-altitude, Long-endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI) took off from Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA on the first-ever trans-Atlantic flight of a MALE RPA. GA-ASI’s company-owned MQ-9B SkyGuardian is in flight, bound for Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, where it is scheduled to […]