Episodes

Sense and Avoid by NASA and General Atomics, South African rules by 2015, Amazon’s drone page, package delivery by Flirtey and Google, and cease and desist letters from the FAA. Guest Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden, Jr., (USMC-Ret.), the NASA Administrator since July, 2009. In this clip from a longer interview recorded for the Airplane Geeks podcast, Charlie talks about NASA’s activity to develop autonomous flight technologies with the UAS test sites, focusing on sense and avoid. NASA is looking...

FAA sued over drone restrictions, UAV arrests and confiscations, privacy legislation in California, UCLASS delay, NASA developing ATC for drones, Disney seeks UAS patents. News Lawsuits Assert Broad Economic and Scientific Impact of FAA’s Drone Restrictions Three lawsuits have been filed by attorney Brenden Schulman ( @dronelaws ) over the FAA’s Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. These were filed on behalf of: 1. The Academy of Model Aeronautics and its 170,000 members The “n...

Guest Dr. Ernest Earon is President and Co-founder of PrecisionHawk . Their Lancaster Platform is designed around the goals of ease of use and autonomous collection of high resolution aerial data. Much of the focus is on agricultural applications, but their platform, and data collection and analysis methodology is applicable to a variety of industries. The NUAIR Alliance , one of the six FAA UAS Test Sites, has a COA for the PrecisionHawk and we talk with Dr. Earon about that program. Also, we d...

The FAA definition of an aircraft, drones and agriculture, UAV privacy issues, FAA solicits a UAS Center of Excellence, Amazon Prime Air, X-47B milestone, drone legislation, and a successful UAV company despite regulatory uncertainty. News FAA Thinks Two Pound Drones Aircraft. But 1100 Pound, Manned and Flying Craft? Unsure. The FAA’s June interpretive rule treats model airplanes as aircraft. But what about other devices that fly – like the Flying Hovercraft that Hammacher Schlemmer sells for $1...

UAS test sites update: Virginia gets FAA COA’s, Maryland starting, New Jersey delayed, Nevada moving slowly. Also, hobby UAV’s you can buy, UAS in the Netherlands, and a possible drone near miss. News The Drone You Should Buy Right Now The Verge offers up their top five recommended hobby drones. These range across the spectrum in size, price, and capability. FAA Announces Virginia Tech UAS Test Site Now Operational The FAA granted Virginia Polytechnic Institute seven Certificates of Waiver or Au...

NUAIR becomes the fifth FAA UAS test site to receive a COA, DJI introduces a new model, regulations in the EU and Singapore, North Dakota and Yellowstone in the news, businesses embrace UAVs in Charlotte, and how long until we see deliveries by drone. News NUAIR Cleared to Begin First Flights of Unmanned Aircraft Systems The Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance ( NUAIR Alliance ) and Griffiss International Airport announced the receipt of their first Certificate of Authorization ...

Aerial photography in real estate, autonomous lighting for photographs, nano drones for situational awareness, a new UAV market size study, video selfies by quadcopter, a U.S. “no drone zone” map, taking aerial video of wildfires, and university professors speak to the FAA. The News NRT bans drone photography in northeastern US Attorneys for NRT LLC, a large real estate brokerage, sent letters to the presidents of 200 offices telling them not to use drone photography until the FAA issues regulat...

Guest Parker Gyokeres owns Propellerheads Aerial Photography and produces professional aerial videos. We talk about that business in general, and in particular about the video of a recent wedding that is getting attention from the press and the FAA. This story offers UAS regulatory issues, safety of flight issues, and even some good old fashioned politics. These are the facts: Sean Maloney, a Democratic member of Congress from upstate New York was married June 21, 2014. A video of the wedding wa...

Martha Stewart’s farm via DJI Phantom, UAS competitions, Amazon.com petitions the FAA, and a utility company to start drone testing. News: Amazing Aerial Photos Of My Farm One of Martha Stewart’s security employees took a tour of Martha’s farm with his new DJI Phantom. On her blog, she posted photos taken by the quadcopter, much to the delight of her fans. Is that commercial use by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha’s company? Shaken or stirred? Drone bartender battles bots in design challe...

3D drone printers, continuously airborne UAVs, hacking drones, flying UAS over airports and sports events, a petition to the FAA, and mapping mud a landslide with a hexacopter. The News BAE Systems Unveils Concepts of On-Board Aircraft 3D Printers Able to Print Incredible UAVs During a Mission The BAE Systems 25-year outlook includes technology for “on demand” UAV production, from inside an aircraft! In a possible scenario, the larger aircraft approaches an unknown situation, like a military con...

UAVs taking off in China, aerial video and privacy, a map showing UAS regs by State, FAA subpoenas realtors, FAA might not make their 2015 deadline, and drone poetry. The News Drone Hobbyists Taking off in China Twenty-three-year old Jin Xing is representative of the enthusiasm for UAVs that is growing in China. He’s created the Butterfly Aerial Photography Workshop, a business he operates from his home. Jin and his partner take aerial photographs for client companies using six helicopters. Aeri...

While at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Become a Pilot Day , David and Max were fortunate to have a conversation with Dr. Evan Ulrich about his “RoboSeed,” a monocopter UAV. We talked with Evan about the design, how it works, the control method, and future applications. Open up his RoboSeed website or visit the RoboSeed YouTube channel , have a look, then listen to this episode.

FAA defines Model Aircraft, UAV’s banned from US National Parks, fourth UAS test site operational, Washington Post study of crashing UAVs, a prize for your drone video, the latest news on UAVs in Brazil and Australia, and CNN wants to prove news drones are safe. The News FAA Claims Authority Over Unsafe Model Aircraft Flights The FAA has published a policy notice stating that the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 gives the FAA authority to regulate model aircraft as unmanned aircraft if t...

While at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Become a Pilot Day , David and Max spoke with Roger Connor , who curates the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In this recorded conversation with Roger, we talk about the history of UAV’s and how the Museum selects aircraft for display. The Museum exhibits include a number of Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles , including the QH-50 Dash , MQ-1L , and Dark Star . We also learn about planned future exhibits, and Roger is beginning to explore the poss...

The third FAA test site goes live, UAV’s to compete at Reno Air Races, drones spying at the World Cup, watching swim competition through the eyes of a quadcopter, hockey fans celebrate their victory by smashing a quadcopter, TV coverage of American football by drone, and mixing manned and unmanned flights in Japan. The News FAA: Nevada unmanned aircraft systems test site goes live UAS test site number three of six is now operational. The FAA granted the State of Nevada team a Certificate of Waiv...

The LAPD is evaluating drones, quadcopter pilot assaulted over privacy concerns, a novel delivery by drone concept, Switzerland picks the Hermes, RQ-21A Blackjack deployment in Afghanistan, and the U.S. Navy tests an Aerostar. The News LAPD Chief Beck to Vet Drones Before Use The Los Angeles Police Department has received two Draganflyer X6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles from the Seattle Police Department, to be used for manhunts and standoffs. The LA Police Chief says he will work with the American C...

The movie industry petitions FAA for UAS exemption, UAS impact on traditional helicopter businesses, commercial UAVs in Canada, drug smuggling with drones, celebrities from history and drones, the video of the week, and listener feedback. The News FAA May Exempt Film Industry from UAV Rules The FAA is considering granting seven professional aerial cinematography companies an exemption that would allow them to create video with UAVs. This comes from a petition by the Motion Picture Association of...

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2014 conference and trade show, a drone narrowly misses a commercial flight, and hack-proof UAS software from DARPA. Guest: Bob Schmidt, President, UAV Propulsion Tech . AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2014 conference and trade show was held in Orlando, Florida May 12-15, 2014. Bob attended and he offers his perspectives on the event. Follow Bob on Twitter as @Schmidtproducts . The News: Drone just missed turbo-prop over Perth military airspace A De Havilland Dash 8-300 turbo-p...

UAS regulation proposals from CASA in Australia and from a listener in the U.S., a “Ten best drones” list, NASA testing sense and avoid with a Predator, and bright job prospects for those with UAS skills. The News: NPRM 1309OS – Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Australia’s ‘low risk’ drone strike stance could bring down airliners Certified UAS operators in Australia hits 100 The Australian CASA released an NPRM (a Notice of Proposed Rule Making) on May 14 concerning Remotely Piloted Aircraft (o...

David flys a multicopter, an Iranian RQ-170 clone, Embry-Riddle creates an unmanned masters program, Italy looks to build a UAV school, a US Airways flight encounters a UAV, Northrop Grumman and Yamaha team up, and Parrot has a new FPV drone. David’s First Flight Parker Gyokeres from Propellerheads Aerial Photography gives David the opportunity to fly a hexacopter, an AGL Hobbies UAP2-V2 with a Sony NEX camera on a 6-axis gyroscopic gimbal and a Naza-M.V2 controller . The video . The News: Irani...

The Alaska UAS test site stands up, the X-37B space drone reaches 500 days in orbit, the National Park Service says no drones but archaeologists say yes, a drone delivery gone wrong, and armed drones for everyone. The News: Fairbanks flight opens unmanned aircraft test site The FAA issued a two-year Certificate of Authorization (COA) to the Alaska UAS Test Site. They’re using the Aeryon Scout for data collection in demanding weather conditions. Mysterious robotic plane hits 500 days in space; wh...

Lockheed Martin gets into sUAS, Texas EquuSearch files suit, drones for weather forecasting and wildlife protection, a fixed wing VTOL drone, an Optionally Manned UH-60, a North Carolina UAS law, drone journalism goes indoors, and an unmanned R&D forecast. The News: Lockheed Martin Marks Significant Milestone in Research & Development for Unmanned Technologies Lockheed Martin is advancing their push into the sUAS segment with their Indago VTOL Quad Rotor for mobile surveillance. The quad and acc...

A UAS Test Site receives an FAA Certificate of Authorization, Spain bans commercial drone use, a drone tracker kit, drones for burglers, a survey says Americans favor targeting terrorists with drones, and an update on the FAA v. Pirker appeal. The News: Press Release – FAA Announces First UAS Test Site Operational On April 21, the FAA announced that the UAS Test Site operated by the North Dakota Department of Commerce is operational. A Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) was granted to ...

Phantom firmware update addresses safety concerns, FAA files appeal brief in Trappy case, a search and rescue team fights to use quadcopters, 33 organizations appeal to the FAA, machine guns versus drones, Google beats out Facebook for atmospheric satellites, and a drone pilot is charged with a felony. The News: Chinese manufacturer programs Phantom drones with no-fly zones to protect Australian airports DJI Innovations is introducing a firmware update to the Phantom 2 quadcopter “to increase fl...