May 1, 2018, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 2, ISSUE 9	May 1, 2018

Top Stories

AOPA enhances benefits for drone pilots

Discounts on equipment from Multicopter Warehouse, discounted admission to Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, and an opportunity to win tickets to that show (a $900 value) are among the newest benefits available to drone pilots who join AOPA as we step up our unmanned aircraft offerings. Read more >

Training and Safety

Flying a fire drone

Life as a public-safety drone pilot is "sporty," to say the least. Aviators have long used this term to describe flying adventures that test their skills. Read more >

Close calls in Dallas

A medical helicopter pilot banked to evade a drone near Love Field in Dallas, and an airline pilot also reported seeing an unmanned aircraft. Pilots remind us why airspace awareness is critical for drone pilots. Read more and watch a video >

Gear

Intel Falcon 8+ certified by UL

UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories) certifies a wide range of products and devices, a list that now includes Intel's Falcon 8+ octocopter. Read more >

Study: DJI does not collect user data without consent

An independent computer forensics study concluded that DJI products do not share customer data without consent. Read more >

Lifestyle

Fly like a bird?

Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has developed a method of piloting a drone by moving your body. Read more >

Experts talk drones at SXSW

Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Poss led an expert panel discussion about the future of drones at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas. Listen to the audio >

Public Safety

DJI makes public-safety pitch

Market leader DJI is stepping up efforts to put its drones in the hands of first responders. DJI will present Humanitarian Awards May 3 during the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International Xponential show in Denver, and published this video ahead of the event. Watch the video >

Stars fell on Alabama

Blount County, Alabama, is not a wealthy county, but firefighters have found affordable air support. Read more and watch a video >

Offshore drone program launched

A drone company joined forces with the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation to put drones on fishing vessels hired by the petroleum industry. Read more >

Regulation and Policy

Learn about special-use airspace

AOPA is working to educate pilots about special-use airspace, and has asked the FAA to do a better job of making information available. Read more >

FAA approves Xcel BVLOS

Xcel Energy has secured FAA approval to fly drones beyond visual line of sight for utility inspections. Read more >

CDA seeks hobbyist rule changes

The Commercial Drone Alliance ruffled feathers with a bid to repeal Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. In this interview, Lisa Ellman, who leads CDA regulatory efforts, explains why. Read more >

Colorado towns eye drone rules

Officials in some Colorado communities want to limit drones. Read more >

News

Fighting Zika with an unusual payload

Millions of sterile mosquitoes will be the payload as a fleet of drones deploys in Brazil. Read more >

Arizona DOT builds UAS capability

A federal grant helped the Arizona Department of Transportation begin to build an unmanned aircraft program. Read more >

Saudi security downs drone

Saudi Arabia's royal palace in Riyadh was the wrong place to fly. Read more >

MRO with drones

Maintenance, repair, and overhaul is a pricey part of any airline or cargo operation. Saving time and money has made unmanned aircraft an appealing addition to these operations. Read more >