Leveraging Vantis, the state’s first-of-its-kind UAS network, uAvionix, a drone company, received approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone flights in North Dakota. uAvionix demonstrated to the FAA that it established adequate risk mitigations to satisfy required safety standards for the specified
Regulations
The US EPA has just published OTM-051 - UAS application of Method 21 for Surface Emissions Monitoring, effectively approving the utilizing the SnifferDRONE method providing a more comprehensive, more effective, and safer means for identifying methane (CH4) leaks over landfills and terrestrial bodies. The new method also provides a means
Business
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, California, is awarded a $16,220,882 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This contract provides for engineering investigations, fleet operations, issues surrounding supportability/reliability, cyber security activities and capabilities, software design and system integration, qualification testing, logistical support as well as training services in support of the
Regulations
The Federal Communications Commission has just proposed new rules that would improve wireless communications on unmanned aircraft systems by allowing access to the 5 GHz band. Building off a 2020 report advocating for UAS access to the 5030-5091 MHz licensed spectrum, FCC officials look to bolster the capabilities of UAS
Military
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) recently demonstrated multiple unmanned systems in a first-of-its-kind mission to move supplies to ships at sea without the use of manned aircraft during an event at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Inigoes, Maryland. The demo, held in collaboration with the
A drone pilot who nearly caused a serious accident at a memorial flight in Buxton, England, has pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft. The incident happened at the Buxton Carnival in July 2022, during a fly-past by the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Hurricane. At the time, the
Data Links & Communications
Airbus and VDL Group have signed a partnership agreement for the development and manufacturing of a laser communication terminal for aircraft, known as UltraAir. Based on the development led by Airbus and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the two companies will now prepare a demonstration of a
Business
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, was awarded a $75,074,676 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for contractor logistics support for Gray Eagle Block 0. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Poway, California, with an estimated completion date of June 28, 2025. Fiscal
Business
EHang Holdings Ltd. is working hard to make futuristic flying cars a reality. But it’s flying into some capital headwinds in that process, potentially leading some investors to refrain from betting too big on the company. Last Friday, EHang — a maker of autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) that can carry
Military
The senior executive of Turkish defense manufacturer Baykar dismissed concerns that as it increases exports, its attack drones may one day be used against Ankara, saying that all required measures had been taken to prevent the military technology from slipping into the hands of a prospective adversary. Selcuk Bayraktar, chairman
Regulations
Drone technology has seen massive growth in recent years, with countries around the world scrambling to pass regulations governing their use. Russia has been no exception, with several new laws passed recently governing everything from commercial drone use to law enforcement applications. While some have criticized these new laws as
Business
Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is awarded a $19,279,611 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to a previously awarded, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N0001922D0038). This modification adds scope for the production and delivery of 10 RQ-21A air vehicles, two RQ-21A turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training in support of RQ-21A Blackjack and