As small drones have become increasingly commonplace, so have reports of close calls by airliners. A recent FAA report tallied the average at four sightings a day, a five-fold increase from the year before. To help address the issue, the American Association of Airport Executives, a trade group representing 850 of the largest airports around the US, has partnered with a startup called AirMap on a Digital Notice and Awareness System, or D-NAS for short. AirMap will collect data from participating pilots flying popular consumer brands like DJI, 3D-Robotics, and Yuneec, then automatically upload that data to a web portal air traffic controllers can access securely.
Read MoreFAA PANEL UNVEILS PROPOSALS FOR FLYING DRONES OVER CROWDS→
/A Federal Aviation Administration panel on Wednesday unveiled highly anticipated safety recommendations for flying small commercial drones over crowds, setting the stage for final regulations on the issue. The Micro Unmanned Aircraft Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee suggests that micro drones weighing less than a half pound can fly over crowds with very limited restrictions because they have a less than a 1 percent chance of causing serious injuries.
Read MoreFAA raises altitude limit for commercial drones→
/Certain small commercial drones will be permitted to fly up to 400 feet under a new policy announced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday. The new policy doubles the authorized altitude from 200 feet, except in restricted airspace and other areas where operation may be prohibited.
Read MoreFAA Releases 2016 to 2036 Aerospace Forecast→
/A key portion of the forecast focuses on projections for the growth in the use of unmanned aircraft, also known as drones. The FAA estimates small, hobbyist UAS purchases may grow from 1.9 million in 2016 to as many as 4.3 million by 2020. Sales of UAS for commercial purposes are expected to grow from 600,000 in 2016 to 2.7 million by 2020. Combined total hobbyist and commercial UAS sales are expected to rise from 2.5 million in 2016 to 7 million in 2020.
Read MoreState drone laws could clash with federal drone policy→
/North Dakota prohibits mounting lethal weapons on drones. Arkansas won't allow remote-controlled aircraft to photograph critical buildings such as power plants and oil refineries. Michigan bans using drones for hunting — or to harass hunters. And North Carolina requires commercial drone operators to take a test to ensure they're familiar with the rules of the road.
Read MoreNational Law Review: House Shelves AIRR Act, Senate to Pursue Own FAA Reauthorization Legislation→
/Members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee are moving forward with their own bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation in the coming weeks, after House Leadership shelved the Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act amid diverse opposition to its air traffic control (ATC) reform provisions.
Read MoreReuters: Industry lobbyists take aim at proposed FAA drone rules
/Read the article, here.
Reuters: Farmers disappointed by restrictions in proposed drone rules
/Read the article here.
New York Times: F.A.A. Rules Would Limit Commercial Drone Use
/Read the article here.
