AUVSI has now given unmanned aircraft systems operators a way to increase their safety and boost their standing in the marketplace through today’s launch of the new Trusted Operator Program, or TOP.
Interest in becoming a commercial drone operator has been growing, but so far, from a regulatory perspective, there has been little available to allow an operator to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate competency or proficiency. While numerous training courses exist, there has been no industry unification for competency training or testing.
Regulatory
Regulatory
Meet the IPP Sites: Memphis airport authority looks to show how UAS can benefit airports, manned aircraft
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) will spend the next three years conducting a variety of UAS operations across Memphis under the UAS Integration Pilot Program.
The only lead applicant selected for the program that is an airport, MSCAA is especially interested in the benefits that drones can offer airports, and ironically enough, manned aircraft.
Airports are increasingly looking to integrate UAS into their operations, which is something that MSCAA’s President and CEO, Scott Brockman, is also looking to do.
Meet the IPP Sites: City of San Diego pursues several diverse UAS applications
The city of San Diego is one of 10 jurisdictions selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s UAS Integration Pilot Program, and one of two municipalities selected in the final group of 10.
The city’s Office of Homeland Security was the lead program applicant, with support from the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and approximately 20 partner organizations representing business and government throughout the region.
Meet the IPP sites: Choctaw Nation to use partners, diverse landscape to push for UAS integration
When Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced the winners of the DOT’s UAS Integration Pilot Program in May, the first team announced was the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
That effort involves a technology-minded Native American tribe, a multi-billion business incubator, a demonstration farm and a 45,000-acre ranch, as well as nearly a dozen partners interested in pushing the envelope for drone flights at night, package delivery and flights over people.
James Grimsley, founder of DII LLC, a family of technology companies (and a former AUVSI Member of the Year), says the Choctaw Nation contacted him about two years ago to discuss a strategy of getting into aviation, which is a strong point for Oklahoma.
Meet the IPP Sites: Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership to spearhead Virginia's work for IPP project
A White House and FAA initiative, the UAS Integration Pilot Program involves 10 locations that will use unmanned aircraft in a wide variety of ways. AUVSI is writing a series of profiles on the locations.
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: Self-driving cars ‘will be a reality,’ but regulatory hurdles remain
For the automobile industry, it might be said that everything old is new again, helped along by the coming of automated vehicles.
As in the early days of the industry, many players are entering the AV space, regulators are wondering how to keep up and the public is unsure of the technology.
“Automated or “self-driving” vehicles are a future technology rather than one that you’ll find in a dealership tomorrow or in the next few years,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in an overview of its guidelines for automakers and state regulators. “A variety of technological hurdles have to be cleared, and other important issues must be addressed before these types of vehicles can be available for sale in the United States.”
From Unmanned Systems Magazine: Automated Shipping Could Lead to Maritime Rules Changes
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency that sets global rules for shipping, is undertaking a “scoping exercise” to explore whether any of its regulations should be changed to accommodate the expected advent of autonomous ships.
The research effort will first review IMO rules to see whether they apply to Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) and would preclude MASS operations. The exercise will then “determine the most appropriate way of addressing MASS operations,” says IMO spokeswoman Natasha Brown.
