Category Archives: Aviation Law
FAA Administrator Makes Two Major Drone Announcements
Speaking today at the AUVSI annual conference in New Orleans, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced the agency is establishing a broad-based advisory committee that will provide advice on key unmanned aircraft integration issues. He also announced plans to make it easier for students to fly unmanned aircraft as part of their coursework. Huerta said the drone… Read More »
Game of Drones-
By Jim Raycroft, AOPA If there is one type of flying machine that has snuck up on the aviation industry, it’s the unmanned aircraft system (UAS), often called drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In 2012, the FAA estimated that 30,000 drones could be zipping through the airspace by 2020, but that number appears to… Read More »
Senate passes FAA reauthorization
By Joe Kildea, The Senate has passed FAA reauthorization legislation, including third class medical reform, on a 95-to-3 vote with strong bipartisan support. The measure would authorize FAA programs until Sept. 30, 2017. Final passage on April 19 followed a procedural vote the previous day. “This is a solid bill for general aviation,” said AOPA… Read More »
The FAA Relaxes Some Rules for Commercial Drone Pilots
By Andrew Liptak Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration issued updated rules for commercial unmanned aircraft, doubling their operational ceiling and streamlined the online application process for pilots registering their drones. The first update applies to Section 333-exempt aircraft – aircraft which the Secretary of Transportation has determined doesn’t need an airworthiness certificate to… Read More »
Lufthansa jet and drone nearly collide near LAX
By Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times The pilot of a commercial jetliner said his plane nearly collided with a drone while approaching Los Angeles International Airport on Friday afternoon, sparking a search by L.A. police and sheriff’s officials for the owner of the unmanned aircraft. The near-miss was reported before 2 p.m. about 14 miles east… Read More »
Federal Government Expands UAS Partnerships
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and key government agencies involved in unmanned aircraft operations are expanding participation in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Executive Committee (EXCOM). The committee provides federal agencies with a forum to share information and reduce redundancies on UAS research and development, and resolve policy and procedural issues on safe UAS integration… Read More »
Pilot’s friend in ‘disbelief’ over NTSB report on Wichita plane crash
By Lauren Seabrook, KWCH NEWS A new video provided by the NTSB shows a small plane crashing into a building at Wichita’s airport. “He only had a matter of seconds to do the right thing and it sounds like maybe he didn’t,” said Ron Ryan, aviation expert and friend of pilot Mark Goldstein. Such a… Read More »
Drone-Mounted Handgun, Flamethrower Reignite Lawmaker Debate
By Susan Haigh, Associated Press HARTFORD — The quiet whirring of the drone’s propellers gives way to the sound of gunshots — pop, pop, pop, pop — in the 14-second video titled “Flying Gun.” The YouTube video of a drone-mounted handgun firing rounds into the Connecticut woods — and a companion video of a flying flamethrower… Read More »
FAA, DHS, CACI, UMD Perform UAS Detection Work
Each month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receives more than 100 reports from pilots and others who spot what appears to be an unmanned aircraft (UAS) flying close to an airport or a manned airplane. It’s become a serious safety concern for the agency, and a potential security issue for the Department of Homeland Security… Read More »
FAA’s registration program will apply to more than drones
By Prentiss Findlay, The Post and Courier More than 500,000 drones are expected to be given as gifts this holiday season. Only the heavier models weighing more than a half-pound fully loaded must be registered with the government. What do you think?Do you think radio-controlled model aircraft should be registered with the FAA just like drones?… Read More »