April 3, 2018, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 2, ISSUE 7	April 3, 2018

Top Stories

From construction engineer to 'Sky Ninja'

Taylor Mitcham was a project engineer working on the Dakota Access Pipeline when she first flew a drone. Now, she flies them full-time–and helps others (pilots and clients alike) profit from the technology. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Mitcham/Sky Ninja.) Read more >

Training and Safety

No place like home

Getting your bird back is a good feeling, particularly after a scare. Read more >

Use caution with online advice

Not everything you read online is accurate. For example, drones and clouds do not mix. Read more >

Out of the box

Popular Science offers some good tips for beginners with new drones. Read more >

Calibrating Mavic Air compass

Knowing how and when to calibrate the compass of DJI's new Mavic Air will help your drone find its way home. Read more >

Gear

DJI upgrades Zenmuse XT

DJI unveiled an upgraded thermal imaging camera and announced coming expansion of payload integration compatibility for high-end systems. Read more >

Aspen Avionics teams with Sensurion

Aspen Avionics is working with Sensurion to develop certified avionics for drones. Read more >

Lifestyle

Shooting salt lands award

Go behind the scenes with Tom Hegen and learn how finding salt in out-of-the-way places led to an award from the British Journal of Photography and DJI. Read more and watch the video >

Droning on 'The Tonight Show'

This recognizable quadcopter landed an appearance on The Tonight Show. Read more >

Public Safety

DroneSAR automates

Watch how DroneSAR software facilitates search-and-rescue missions. Watch the video >

Hazmat response, with air support

Firefighters in Menlo Park, California, used drones to investigate a noxious smell suspected to be coming from a methamphetamine lab. Read more >

Drones to assess nuclear plant damage

A research team will use drones to assess Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, which was damaged by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Read more >

Predicting outages with aerial analysis

Drones have long assisted with utility restoration, and now they will help predict outages. Read more >

Regulation and Policy

Legislation targets drone security

Drone law attorney Jonathan Rupprecht looks at the Safeguarding America's Skies Act. Read more >

FAA predicts drone growth

The FAA does not expect rapid increases in drone and Part 107 pilot numbers to slow any time soon. Read more >

Taylor continues to fight registration requirement

Model aircraft hobbyist Robert Taylor continues to fight the FAA recreational drone registration requirement, despite a recent law that reinstated it. Read more (free with registration) >

Integration workshop coming to Colorado

AOPA will be among many participating in a drone integration workshop planned for April 29 at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in Nathrop, Colorado. Learn more and register >

News

Article

Subscale Super Cub advances drone integration

NASA is flying a subscale Piper Cub on a mission to help make drone flights beyond visual line of sight safe and routine. Read more >

Crash pilot blames drone

A pilot who crashed a small airplane in New Zealand blamed a drone, though it was unclear what came through the windshield. Read more >

Caribou pursuit

Scientists are bringing drones to bear on caribou migration studies. Read more and watch the video >

School board backs drones

School officials in Ocala, Florida, have approved drones for use by teachers and coaches. Read more >

Increased autonomy predicted

Analysts at Frost & Sullivan expect more than half of all commercial drone flights will be autonomous by 2022. Read more >