December 26, 2017, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 1, ISSUE 23	December 26, 2017

Top Stories

An eventful year for drones

If it seems like drones are just about everywhere these days, there's something to that. As another record year for drone sales—and a year that saw several significant developments in technology and regulation—drew to a close, a newly published Pew Research Center study found Americans are more accepting of unmanned aircraft than some might suppose, although skepticism persisted. Read more >

Training and Safety

'Loose, juice, and roost'

Preflight checklists are essential to safe flying, and this one is about as simple—and memorable—as it gets. Kittyhawk Chief Pilot Joshua Ziering posted this gem on the website of the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team in October, and it stands out as one of the best drone-flying tips of 2017. Read more >

Kansas college offers drone degree

Butler Community College in Kansas will offer an associate's degree in unmanned aircraft, with many of the classes taught by Kansas State University faculty thanks to a new partnership. Read more >

Getting the perfect water shot

Randy Braun and Stacy Garlington offer some useful tips for bringing out the beauty of aquatic scenes. Read more >

Gear

Autonomous drone made for the farm

American Robotics of Boston designed the Scout quadcopter to keep an eye on the farm, all by itself. The company reports deployment "in a range of agricultural locations." Part 107 requires a remote pilot to be in control and to keep the drone in sight. FAA waivers are being granted, however, as sUAS News reported Dec. 19. Read more >

Lifestyle

Traveling with a drone in your luggage

Before packing your bags for commercial air travel, consider whether your drone or spare batteries will comply with regulations and airline policies, writes Jared Allen, AOPA Legal Services Plan senior staff attorney. Read more >

Last chance for SkyPixel entries

The submission deadline for the 2017 SkyPixel Photo Contest is Dec. 29 at 1:59 p.m. Central Standard Time, with several goodies, including drones, offered as prizes. Winners will be announced Jan. 31, 2018. Read more >

Two photographers earn drone, mentor

Entries in a drone photo contest earned Markel Redondo and Tom Hegen new drones, cash, and a day of mentorship and tutelage by Guardian newspaper photographer and drone pilot Graeme Robertson. Read more >

Regulation and Policy

Drone identification and tracking report released

The FAA on Dec. 19 published a much-anticipated report from the aviation rulemaking committee formed to recommend a systematic approach to identifying drones in flight, enabling law enforcement, air traffic control, and security authorities to instantly identify the drone's owner. Read more >

FAA expands drone restrictions over federal facilities

The FAA is expanding the list of sensitive government facilities where unmanned aircraft operations are prohibited: Seven U.S. Department of Energy facilities will be no-drone zones effective Dec. 29. Read more >

Registration requirement returns

Drones weighing at least 0.55 pounds (250 grams) must once again be registered with the FAA if they are flown for noncommercial purposes under Part 101, the FAA Special Rule for Model Aircraft. Read more >

Attorney picks apart sighting reports

Jonathan Rupprecht, a pilot and attorney who practices drone law, has a few bones to pick with those reports of drone sightings that the FAA has been collecting and disseminating. Read more >

News

Firms collaborate for lifesaving drone delivery

In the not-too-distant future, heart attack victims in Nevada may receive lifesaving assistance from bystanders thanks to a new kind of medical service being developed by drone delivery pioneer Flirtey and regional air and ground ambulance provider REMSA. Their plan is to deliver defibrillators. Read more >

Drone pilot faulted in Black Hawk collision

The owner of the DJI Phantom 4 that collided Sept. 21 with a U.S. Army UH–60M Black Hawk helicopter that was on a security patrol over New York Harbor intentionally lost sight of his quadcopter minutes before the collision. Read more >

LAFD deploys drones in wildfire fight

Los Angeles firefighters logged their first real-world response with drones while battling one of the many fires that have devastated Southern California. Read more >

Researchers test mind control for drones

Researchers at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are thinking hard about controlling drones with nothing but brainwaves. Read more >

Pipistrel turned to drone

A growing number of aircraft familiar to general aviation pilots are being rigged for remote control. Add Pipistrel's Sinus motorglider to the list. Read more >