[UAS] FW: UAS Articles of Interest

Mon Oct 8 17:28:35 MST 2018

From: Marisa Walker <MarisaW at AZcommerce.com<mailto:MarisaW at AZcommerce.com>>
Sent: Thursday, October 4, 2018 10:07 AM
To: Marisa Walker <MarisaW at AZcommerce.com<mailto:MarisaW at AZcommerce.com>>
Subject: UAS Articles of Interest

FAA Now Lets Certain Drones Fly Near Airports<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001_5Z7VnsfBblXKc9TfqT-z_I1DEItQabFEfG-whndLZMr_fHKr8GytP2PDghZ2uFH0N5u17rXDP4PHpqElVy44DZ8vEE2U1afxrlKOBGNpdkPAbS-0tdq8KnozBve9FP9FlMuztSQp1mSVtw26YCoT2nvjeKrQC7dMBjgg7waYTD5156TGaksHmdQtaXY0GKpc5AX6p8d8fZhzWGO7VMUKOoiR63XJhTAoLRB3KEaGw-Z8xm4KFePy6KD4DNHgPsgp3zS6rxzyNgdaMh6CwCrYmeIU0fuUHaA&c=lkbiz6WRIG-jutbkcdHkGflrK_HooO_bm0-gMitKAfsO-revFZgr9A==&ch=wt97N2maYQqOM2N-qNNClAuFeLmz0BpRo_0NKT6IegWv1ZiR6tbRRA==> (Nextgov)

Boeing Partners With Robotic Skies On UAV MRO.

Aviation Week<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100401aerostates&r=7409304-1f5a&l=00d-a8c&t=c> (10/3, Bruno) reports that The Boeing Company is collaborating with Robotic Skies, a “brokered global network of more than 160 independently-owned and operated repair stations providing MRO on commercial UAVs, including to offer supply chain management and analytics.” According to a joint statement, the companies plan to provide “unified operations services” for both existing and future commercial UAV operators. Boeing subsidiaries Jeppesen and Aviall plan to work with Robotic Skies to “jointly pursue opportunities to leverage their manned aviation programs” and increase their presence in the UAV market, “including providing services for commercially-focused regulatory compliance, ground support, training, MRO, parts distribution, field upgrades and vehicle retrofit capabilities.”

FAA Announces Serious Civil Penalties For UAV Interference With First Responders.

Flying Magazine<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100301aerostates&r=7409304-0763&l=005-8dd&t=c> (10/1, Mark) reports that the FAA announced last week that UAVs interfering with wildfire containment crews, law enforcement efforts, or other first responders “are now more likely to face serious civil penalties, even for first-time offenses.” The action is “separate from new provisions included within the FAA Reauthorization legislation that would allow authorities to track, intercept or even shoot down drones considered a security threat.”

Chao Speaks About Regulating Autonomous Vehicles, UAVs At Most Powerful Women Summit.

Fortune<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100301aerostates&r=7409304-0763&l=007-f25&t=c> (10/2, Fry) reports that at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao spoke about regulating autonomous vehicles and UAVs. Chao “noted that the nation is on the cusp of transformation in transportation and technology that will change the way Americans work, move, and connect.” Chao also “dismissed the notion that her department had been lax in regulating new autonomous vehicles.” In addition, Chao cited law enforcement and military concerns about emerging UAV technology.

        Fortune<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100301aerostates&r=7409304-0763&l=008-7f7&t=c> (10/2) also features a six-minute video of Chao speaking at the summit.

Louisiana Company Seeks FAA Exemption For Controlled Burn UAV.

Inside Unmanned Systems<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100301aerostates&r=7409304-0763&l=00e-d9b&t=c> (10/2, Divis) reports that the FAA is seeking public comment on allowing “an exemption for a drone that would, while in flight, release ping pong-ball sized chemical spheres designed to burst into flame upon impact.” Louisiana-based Silver Wings Drone Services applied for an exemption for a modified DJI Matrice 600 outfitted with “an IGNIS Fire System” in order “to help limit the impact of wildfires and protect habitat by supporting planned, controlled burns to clear out underbrush.” Silver Wings needs the exemption to circumvent a “requirement that unmanned aircraft not carry hazardous materials.” The NIMBUS Lab at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has separately been studying the use of such UAVs for controlled burns, and has the backing of federal funding from the National Science Foundation.

Iowa Station’s Photographers Become Drone Operators.

The AP<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100101aerostates&r=7409304-53af&l=002-c3d&t=c> (9/30) reports that Iowa-based WQAD-TV was “ahead of the TV field two years ago” when it had some of its photographers take an exam allowing them to be licensed drone pilots. The station now has 12 drones, “one for every photographer and one to spare.” As of this month, WQAD drone operators “were able to get real-time approval on their requests to enter restricted airspace.” The article explains that “Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability – LAANC – is a partnership between the FAA and private industry to support unmanned aircraft system access to previously restricted airspace. The new system took about six months to test and approve, and the FAA will continue to monitor its success.” A FAA spokesperson said, “Local authorities have established areas around the airport that are safe to fly for drone operations and qualify for automatic authorization.” The spokesperson added, “The local air traffic control facility creates gridded maps called UAS Facility Maps that define a maximum height for which an operation could be considered safe for automatic authorization. Also, as drone pilots plan their flights, they are reminded of restrictions in the area and notifications they should be aware of.”

Provision In FAA Authorization Bill Gives Government New Power To Track, Destroy UAVs.

The AP<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100101aerostates&r=7409304-53af&l=003-14e&t=c> (9/28, Koenig) reports that an aviation bill before Congress contains a “little-noticed section that would give authorities the power to track, intercept and destroy” UAVs which law enforcement authorities consider to be security threats, without needing a judge’s approval. Supporters “point to the Islamic State terrorist group’s use of bomb-carrying” UAVs on “battlefields in Iraq, and warn that terrorists could go after civilian targets in the United States.” Critics contend that the provision would “give the government unchecked power to decide when” UAVs are a threat, or could restrict UAV-camera news footage of “protests or controversial government facilities, such as the new detention centers for young migrants.” The House authorized the measure Wednesday by a 398-23 vote, and the Senate is expected to pass it on to President Trump’s desk in the coming days.

NYTimes Details Use Of Drones To Demonstrate Impact Of Climate Change.

The New York Times<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018100101aerostates&r=7409304-53af&l=005-5b1&t=c> (9/30, Lucas) discusses its staff’s use of drones to illustrate the impact of climate change. The article highlights Times photographers’ use of a drone to capture video footage and images which show “how climate change is threatening” Scotland’s Orkney Islands and the “pieces of history” located there. Times climate editor Hannah Fairfield said, “We wanted to bring our readers close to places where the cultural identity is being permanently erased by climate change.”

FAA Reauthorization Preserves Perimeter Rules At Reagan.

The Augusta (VA) Free Press<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092801aerostates&r=7409304-aca5&l=004-12f&t=c> (9/27) reports that Sen. Mark Warner applauded the House’s passage of “bipartisan legislation” to reauthorize the FAA through 2023. Warner said that the bill “provides robust reforms that will allow further innovation in unmanned aircraft systems technology and advance research, providing a five-year extension of the FAA-designated test site at Virginia Tech.” Warner also praised provisions which he introduced to “promote the safe and responsible use of UAS technology while creating a pipeline of skilled workers in this transformative industry.” Warner also cited the bill’s move to prevent the addition of more landing slots at Reagan National Airport, “an effort that would have fundamentally undermined the balance among Northern Virginia’s airports and the economy that is based upon that balance.”

        UAV Hobbyists Oppose Provisions In FAA Bill. Bloomberg News<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092801aerostates&r=7409304-aca5&l=005-a05&t=c> (9/27, Levin) reports that the FAA reauthorization bill includes provisions that would end an era of unregulated recreational UAVs. The bill repeals the “current exemption for hobbyists from regulations and for the first time require them to take a test before flying.” It also mandates that operators “fly no higher than 400 feet and stay clear of traditional aircraft.” While these provisions have been endorsed by industry groups and government agencies as a way to address a growing number of safety and security incidents, they also “significantly change the ground rules for users of products that have grown enormously popular.” Some groups such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics are calling upon lawmakers to oppose these provisions in the FAA reauthorization bill, which passed the House on Wednesday and could be passed by the Senate within days.

CBP UAV Program Audited, Criticized For Data Protection.

Arizona Public Media<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092801aerostates&r=7409304-aca5&l=006-227&t=c> (9/27) reports that Customs and Border Protection’s UAV program “was audited recently and found to be lax in protecting the information that the planes gather while patrolling the country’s borders.”

Sen. Markey, Rep. Perry Call For “Drone Czar.”

The Washington Post<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092801aerostates&r=7409304-aca5&l=007-047&t=c> (9/27) reports in a video that Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) both call upon the US to create a “drone czar” at the Department of Homeland Security in order to provide a single point of contact to deal with both emerging UAV technologies and threats. Markey also indicated his intention to introduce within the next few years a “bill of rights” regarding privacy issues spurred by the development of the UAV industry.

Airbus Conducts Manned-Unmanned Tests Using Do-DT25 UAVs.

Airforce Technology<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092801aerostates&r=7409304-aca5&l=016-ee7&t=c> (9/26) reported that Airbus successfully carried out “manned-unmanned teaming (MUT) test flight campaigns for future air combat systems” using the Airbus Do-DT25 target UAV. The flights served “multiple purposes, including validating elements such as connectivity, human-machine interface, and the concept of teaming intelligence through mission group management.”

FAA Grants State Farm Waiver For Expanded UAV Operations In The Carolinas.

Inside Unmanned Systems<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092401aerostates&r=7409304-48df&l=009-2bd&t=c> (9/21) reported on the use of UAVs in North and South Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence “to help evaluate hurricane damage and allocate resources in four states impacted” by the storm. The FAA recently granted State Farm a waiver permitting the company to operate UAVs “over people and beyond visual line of sight...marking the first time an insurance company has received such a waiver.” State Farm Senior Vice President Robert Yi said in a statement that “State Farm needs to quickly assess damage after significant weather events.” He added that UAV technology “provides us with the capability to quickly deploy over a catastrophe site and assess damage from the air.” The FAA’s waiver for State Farm “comes after months of research following a process pioneered by” the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership “for identifying, evaluating and mitigating potential risks presented by drone operations.”

        We Talk UAV<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092401aerostates&r=7409304-48df&l=00a-f14&t=c> (9/21, Luna) reported that “in May 2018, State Farm started a collaboration with Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) to reduce risks and assess strategies for maximizing drone potential.” MAAP researchers “collected data on the drone’s communication, performance, navigational precision and risk of injury to humans.” The data “proved to be impressive enough for the FAA to green light State Farm for ‘conducting sophisticated aerial damage-assessment operations following the devastating impact of Hurricane Florence.’”

Duke Energy Uses UAVs to Monitor Dam Following Hurricane Florence.

The AP<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018092101aerostates&r=7409304-d8a0&l=012-9f0&t=c> (9/20) reports on Duke Energy’s efforts to restore power and manage the after-effects of Hurricane Florence. The company on Thursday “activated a high-level emergency alert at a retired coal-fired power plant near Wilmington, North Carolina, as floodwaters from the nearby Cape Fear River overtopped an earthen dike and inundated a large lake.” Duke Energy spokeswoman Paige Sheehan “said Thursday that the dam containing Sutton Lake appears stable,” and that Duke is monitoring the situation using helicopters and UAVs.

FAA Drone Tracker Launches Nationwide<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Pr2riJu92lgOxEUg9k3uxh7xMP8RzH8uPa41PxOhJabN16-WZq1bMpKn02tDupLyW1yFTst39izc4HYy0lpiVDoHQ_WE9AuOY2-YqkDaaZx1BoM1xSGTQToi0h5pi5LjiQDDJQ47OYO794uOv9OuuLL4MrtfxmWNhne2QZzxdi1l7rEgpCyPqaeWA-t1LwXzpyuEv-vWcNBegf0qqITN93UlVPrWD1XcZVTK7j-8ArLLhmjyCzDeiA==&c=KHjFkb9JCl_1t_PjdrZQeV0CvKNVSVBrPd_6GbooDo4kP8OMC_n2-A==&ch=hy8Bz5LvcqVzlIjjkb41M2IQWceuTaL7j6j4SnClvvNZsueFsYe6Mw==> (FCW)

Insitu Unveils UAV “Visually Undetectable” At Tactical Altitudes.

National Defense Magazine<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091801aerostates&r=7409304-4d46&l=00c-20e&t=c> (9/17, Mayfield) reports that The Boeing Company’s Insitu subsidiary unveiled the new Integrator Extended Range UAV Monday at the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference. Insitu President and CEO Esina Alic described the UAV as “acoustically and visually undetectable at tactical altitudes.” Alic said that the “theater-range platform” can fly for 200 nautical miles and remain on station for up to 10 hours. The UAV is undergoing test flights on the West Coast. Insitu Defense Vice President Don Williamson highlighted the aircraft’s range and vertical takeoff capabilities, noting that medium-altitude UAVs typically have had ranges from 50 to 70 nautical miles, and that test flights over the past year have shown “Integrator ER shatters previous small UAS limits.” Reuters<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091801aerostates&r=7409304-4d46&l=00d-185&t=c> (9/17, Banerjee) reports that the UAV “features high-quality full motion video during flight and more secure jam-resistant networks,” and according to Insitu, provides “significantly reduced cost” compared with competing medium-altitude UAVs.

NCDOT UAV Surveys “Impassable” I-40 In Aftermath Of Hurricane Florence.

The Washington Post<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091801aerostates&r=7409304-4d46&l=013-b10&t=c> (9/18, Thebault) reports that the North Carolina Department of Transportation used a UAV to capture footage of Interstate 40, which has become “completely submerged” as a result of flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The aircraft “captured footage of the stunning spectacle, using the images to underscore a dire warning to the state’s residents.” USA Today<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091801aerostates&r=7409304-4d46&l=014-638&t=c> (9/17) separately includes video in its coverage.

UAS Deployment In Disaster And Crisis Scenarios Increasingly Common.

The AP<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091701aerostates&r=7409304-3fd0&l=014-a68&t=c> (9/15, Degennaro) reported on the use of UAVs in emergency situations, saying many local EMS, firefighting departments, and others have purchased UAS as a new tool for disaster response. The AP explained that “what was once viewed as a toy has turned out to be useful in a variety of industries, from emergency agencies to real estate brokers and even farmers.” Regulation has followed, although “right now there are gray areas in the industry when it comes to personal use. But professional use is more regulated.” The head of Tennessee-based UAV Coach, Lana Axelrod, said, “FAA has authority over air space...but people are worried about privacy. Nobody wants (a drone) in their backyard. It’s never a bad idea...to talk to your neighbor...and explain what you’re doing.”

        Bloomberg News<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091701aerostates&r=7409304-3fd0&l=015-4e7&t=c> (9/15, Malik) reported that “a small army of drones is being assembled to quickly help identify and even fix damage caused” by Hurricane Florence. Hundreds of UAS operators may seem like a small number “compared with the roughly 40,000 utility workers mobilized to provide assistance, but drones can provide faster access to find problems in flooded or otherwise dangerous areas.”

        The Aviation International News<http://mailview.bulletinmedia.com/mailview.aspx?m=2018091701aerostates&r=7409304-3fd0&l=016-6af&t=c> (9/14, Huber) also reported.

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Marisa Walker

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