As I have written about previously, there are numerous myths, misinformation, and disconnects when it comes to Part 107, commercial drone operations, and related FAA responses. But the question that begs for an answer is why these disconnects exist. There are several reasons for the disparities. 1) Manned Aircraft Pilots (MAPs) are trained to think … Read more
There is no doubt that the development and use of small unmanned aerial vehicles and systems (sUAV / UAS, aka drones) is exploding; from taking lofty real-estate pictures and videos, inspecting construction sites, buildings, transmission lines, towers, bridges, and other infrastructures, farm field surveys, search and rescue, emergency response to potential personal transportation and more. … Read more
VLOS, how to lose your mind, reputation, license, and quad all simultaneously. VLOS has been a controversial, complex, and confusing FAA mandate from its inception. Steve, a close friend, asked me if I would be interested in determining the actual limits of VLOS; I curiously accepted. Over five days in varying weather conditions, daytime, civil … Read more
The purpose of this article is to highlight the actual limits of flying small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAVs), specifically multi-rotors, under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) regulations. This time-consuming research began with a simple question: how far you can see and fly while still meeting the regulations under 14 CFR … Read more
BVLOS has been touted as the “holy grail” of the UAV / drone industry. Those that possess it feel they are thus a cut above the rest. With over 99% of BVLOS waiver applications rejected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (only 16% of the 11,345 applications reviewed in 2018 had been approved) and as … Read more
In this last article, I will discuss what we drone pilots face and can do to minimize our liability exposure. See the entire series, here. First let’s start with the FAA’s definition of Pilot In Command (PIC). The PIC is and has the final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight, … Read more
To read Part 2 of this series, click here. Let’s take a look at a few examples of what can go wrong, knowingly or not. The first involves Cecil the Lion, the infamous animal who was killed by a big game hunter from Minnesota that sparked an international uproar. See the entire series, here. Mical … Read more
During Part 1, I briefly covered the Causby case to help set the stage for situations we drone pilots may confront. Here are two more to consider. The first is Boggs versus Merideth, United States District Court Western District of Kentucky at Louisville, Civil Action N. 3:16-CV-00006-TBR (W.D. Ky. Mar. 21, 2017) Don’t miss future … Read more
We Part 107 pilots share some of the same airspace that our manned aircraft brethren do, just closer to the ground. It takes a lot of research, planning and proficiency to conduct safe drone flights; maybe more than our manned flight counterparts do because of our proximity to mother earth. The rules for manned aircraft … Read more
We unmanned pilots have a lot in common with our manned aircraft brethren sans the luxury of sitting onboard the aircraft. As such, taking advantage of systems that help our piloting capabilities are welcome. Remember forgetting to turn on the GoPro camera of your Phantom 2 only to learn after landing that nothing was recorded? … Read more