News

The U.S. Senate passed H.R. 302 the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 by a 93-6 vote.  The Act provides funding for the FAA for the next 5 years – and makes major changes to drone regulations. The Senate vote will move the Act on to be signed by President Trump.  …

Enterprise drone operations software company Kittyhawk has announced a $3M strategic investment from insurance firm Travelers. The Travelers Companies’ investment will help Kittyhawk offer drone operations solutions to new markets. From customer to investor Travelers have long been a front-runner in the use of drones within the insurance industry. The company launched its drone program to …

The following is a press release from Unifly. Hitachi has launched a drone platform solution expanding their existing infrastructure inspection services portfolio with an AI assisted, drone-based service. Over the last years, the societal impact of drone technology is steadily increasing and it is expected that the use of drone …

Drone cell tower inspection – image courtesy of Measure The drone industry is divided over the new FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018.  The repeal of Section 336 leaves some in the recreational sector wondering if the hobby will survive: manufacturers and big industry are all for the changes that the …

A recent article in Forbes Magazine put together 11 predictions about drone delivery from their Forbes Technology Council.  Here are 3 key takeaways about when and how drone delivery might actually come to your neighborhood. 1.  Drones Will Supplement but Not Replace Truck Delivery More than one of the Forbes …

Energy provider Southern Company has announced plans to expand its existing drone program with assistance from Verizon-owned Skyward. The move follows Southern Company and its affiliates’ established use of drone technology for remote inspections, wire transport and damage recovery assessments. In fact, the company claims to be the first utility to …

The new proposed FAA Reauthorization package has been made public.  It’s wordy, complex, and confusing – and the headlines haven’t made understanding what’s inside easier.  There are several points of critical importance for the drone industry to understand.  The proposed Repeal of Section 336, the Integration Pilot Program, the “Safeguarding …

The following is a press release from AOPA. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has announced that members who are opted-in for drone content are now eligible for discounted fees and special recognition from PrecisionHawk’s on-demand drone pilot network, Droners.io. Thanks to an agreement announced in July at EAA AirVenture in …

This time it might actually happen.  The FAA has not had a funding bill passed since 2012, which means that they have been working under a series of uncertain extensions for a number of years.  Congress was unable to agree on a package in 2016, when the house called for …

As schools, colleges and universities race to include drones into their STEM programs in order to keep up with new demand, resources are often hard to find.  Drones provide a fascinating way to introduce primary and high school students to the sciences: they may provide valuable job training at higher …