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An update on the aeronautical knowledge test for recreational drone pilots, UPS plans for medical deliveries, a drone field technician college degree, a waiver for drone flights over people, opinions on drone strikes on airliners, environmental BVLOS missions, and a message from the FAA on drones and dangerous weapons.
UAV News
Recreational Drone Flyer Test Coming Soon
FAA seeks third parties to administer online recreational drone tests
The FAA wants to outsource the administration of the aeronautical knowledge test for recreational drone pilots mandated by Section 349 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The agency has posted a request for information and seeks responses from commercial, non-profit, or academic entities that would serve as test designees. The FAA said it won’t pay test designees and is “agnostic as to the business model” they choose to administer the test. Replies are due by September 12, 2019.
UPS details drone plans in federal exemption request
Since March 2019, UPS Flight Forward and partner Matternet have been transporting blood and medical samples by drone for WakeMed hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina. Now UPS wants to expand this service to other areas in the U.S.
Atlantic Cape debuts new degree in drones this fall
Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey is offering an associate degree in applied science with a concentration in sUAS (Drones) Field Technician. The college says “Upon successful completion of the program students will demonstrate basic proficiency in the area of small UAS operations, general maintenance and repair, the use of a small UAS for the collection of and pre and post-processing of aerial images and videos, and geospatial data collection.”
Fast Food Delivery Drone Being Developed in Syracuse, N.Y.
Flytrex has received a waiver from the FAA to fly over people, specifically over a highway in Holly Springs, North Carolina as part of a three-year test project. Flytrex wants to deliver food over a single route from a shopping center with 15 restaurants to customers at a nearby public park and sports complex.
NUAIR (the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research alliance) tested the Flytrex drone (a DJI Matrice 600 Pro) and parachute (from Drone Rescue Systems of Austria) in a series of 45 different failure tests at Griffiss International Airport.
Are Drone-Aircraft Collisions A Real Threat To Airline Passengers and Crews?
The author observed a drone out the window of a commercial flight out of Newark Airport. The seatback in-flight map showed an altitude of 2,800 feet and a ground speed of 230 MPH. He offers some suggestions for the flying public, legislators, and drone manufacturers.
Aeromapper Talon Amphibious fly BVLOS missions over marine reserve for illegal fishing detection and biodiversity research
Two Amphibian Aeromapper Talon drones were used in trials in Belize to detect and document illegal fishing activities and perform conservation research. The waterproof drones can land on water. Twenty-four BVLOS flights were successfully flown during the trials. Current enforcement involves patrols around the atoll in small boats.
Video: Commercial grade amphibian fixed-wing drone
Drones and Weapons, A Dangerous Mix
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is warning the general public that operating a drone with a dangerous weapon attached is a violation of Section 363 of the 2018 FAA Reauthorization Act enacted Oct. 5, 2018. Operators are subject to civil penalties up to $25,000 for each violation unless the operator has received specific authorization from the Administrator of the FAA to conduct the operation. “Dangerous Weapon” means any item that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury. Operators are subject to civil penalties up to $25,000 for each violation.