News
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced its policy for the type certification of certain unmanned aircraft systems as a special class of aircraft. This policy is effective September 18, 2020. In 2012, Congress passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95). Section 332 of Public Law
Commercial
"Smart" delivery hatches built into homes are being developed so that parcels can be delivered by drone. The skylight hatches could be both fitted or designed into the roofs of homes so customers can receive packages even when they are out. Start-up Idu Group hopes the innovation can
Commercial
A Spectrum Health Aero Med helicopter had a near collision with a drone while landing at Butterworth Hospital. The drone was hovering over the rooftop landing site when the aircraft landed. The device dropped low enough to be captured by an Aero Med crew member. The owner is unknown. Aero
Weapons Systems
Aksungur, a domestically produced medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), completed a 28-hour-long flight last Thursday. It was the first time the aircraft flew with a payload at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,096 meters). TAI announced the new achievement on Twitter.
Business
Kratos Defense, a manufacturer of military tactical and training drones, expanded its footprint in Oklahoma City. The San Diego-based defense contractor increased the size of its operation here by 50%, and now uses over 150,000 square feet at the Will Rogers Business Park. Steve Fendley, president of Kratos'
News
The US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance combat aircraft, intended to complement or succeed the F-22 and F-35 in the air superiority role, has already flown, having been rapidly prototyped through modern digital design, Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper revealed. Roper made the revelation at the end
Military
In an effort to field MQ-9 Reapers faster and meet an increasing operational demand for the aircraft, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office awarded a $7.4 billion ceiling Agile Reaper Enterprise Solution (ARES) contract to General Atomics Sept. 17. The MQ-9 is an unmanned
UAM/UTM
The Thames Valley to the west of London will be the site of what is expected to be the world’s first commercial drone corridor in open and unrestricted airspace according to plans submitted to the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority. Operated and managed by Altitude Angel, the site will
News
On Friday 18 September 2020, Patrick Gandhil, the Director General of the ‘‘Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile’’ (DGAC), the French civil aviation authority, officially left his function after 13 years in this position. Patrick Gandil’s passion for aviation in all its forms (including unmanned aircraft systems) was legendary.
Commercial
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Geopipe of New York City is the winner of GENIUS NY's $1 million grand prize. The GENIUS NY program is the world's largest business competition focused on unmanned systems, cross-connected platforms and other technology-based sectors. BotsAndUs from the United Kingdom, Droneseed
Military
Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division said on Sept. 16 that it is developing and will fly a new unmanned aircraft system (UAS) called Speed Racer to validate that an internal digital engineering process called StarDrive can produce sophisticated flight vehicles faster and cheaper across the full range of the
Testing
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) played a central role in U.S. Air Force’s (USAF’s) Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) On-ramp demonstration held September 1-3, 2020. The goal of the demonstration was to prove emerging ABMS technologies in support of USNORTHCOM and USSPACECOM homeland defense priorities. GA-ASI