I asked Captain Moffatte from the Wake Forest Fire Department to read and review the information on starting a COA flight program using his fresh eyes. Captain Moffatte is responsible for managing multiple programs and is uniquely qualified to understand complex requirements, planning, managing data, and reporting for compliance. To date, he has not been … Read more
This was the most important sentence of the entire document. “By the same token that identifying the airborne location of an aircraft and collocated pilot with a transponder is not a Fourth Amendment search, the FAA says, using Remote ID to learn the locations of airborne drones and their pilots invades no constitutionally recognized privacy … Read more
The NTSB has issued a final rule defining an Unmanned Aircraft Accident and its responsibilities. It is disappointing and disturbing. Public safety pilots fly under the most challenging conditions with extraordinary demands and pressures. This creates additional risks and liabilities for flight. With manufacturers silent on known safety defects of UAS and no government agency … Read more
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch just published their 2021 accident review for UAS incidents. “Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) occurrences accounted for a quarter of the notifications received by the AAIB in 2021 and the increased levels of reporting from this sector is welcomed. The AAIB has been investigating selected UAS accidents since 2015 and … Read more
I stumbled across this video of a DJI Mini 2 pilot that lost control of his aircraft despite having 20+ satellites, no wind, and full signal. The pilot said, “I went up to 120 meters and then it starts flying sideways. Warning saying Max power load reached. Code 30168.” Lesson Learned: Your drone can operate … Read more
I was recently asked about a fixed-wing UAS, the FlightWave Edge 130. In taking a look at the UAS, I noticed the following statement on the FlightWave sight, “The Edge 130 VTOL tricopter is a consumer-priced, military-grade UAS designed for long-range, long-endurance missions.” – Source It was the words Long-Range that caught my eye, given … Read more
The subject of the Pilots Record Database and its applicability for both Part 107 and COA pilots has created a thirst for more clarity. These FAQs below are a combination of information distributed by the FAA, and some are from the info I published here. With the liability and complexity of yet another COA admin … Read more
In April, a Part 107 remote pilot emailed the FAA’s UAS Support Center and provided his account of a recent drone flight. Here’s what it said: “After several scenarios while conducting sUAS flights, helicopters have (literally) suddenly appeared just above the tree canopy. With flying this low, the ability to actually hear them before they … Read more
What I’m about to share applies to most drone manufacturers. While I mention Skydio, they are not alone in this mess, in my opinion. They do make a great example of my point though. I’ve held my tongue on Skydio drones. But Paul Rossi from Nine Ten Drones broke the door open with this LinkedIn … Read more
At first glance, you are not going to believe what I’m about to share with you. But this is all true, so pay close attention. Historically the FAA has maintained a database of commercial pilots that employers had to upload information about. This was typically so that when pilots moved from one carrier to another … Read more