November 27, 2018, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 2, ISSUE 24	November 27, 2018

Top Stories

Precious payload

A University of Maryland team demonstrated how drones may become vital links in a human organ transportation chain. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Joseph Scalea/University of Maryland Medical Center.) Read more >

Training and Safety

Free airspace training offered

AirMap and DARTdrones (which offers discounts for AOPA members) collaborated to create a free online course that covers real-world airspace scenarios. Learn more and take the course >

College drone classes popular

Parkland College in Illinois used a National Science Foundation grant to build a drone program. Read more >

Gear

Firmware fixed?

While DJI announced a firmware update Nov. 16 to address battery problems with TB50/55 batteries, some users report the problem is not yet fully resolved. Meanwhile, Garret Bryl offers tips for updating multiple batteries in this YouTube video. Watch the video >

Hydrogen-powered quad unveiled

SKYCORP's e-Drone Zero runs on hydrogen, offering extended flight time. Read more >

High marks for Mavic 2 Pro

Wired put the DJI Mavic 2 Pro through a series of tests and pronounced the image quality "insanely good." Read more >

Hover 2 gets love on Kickstarter

CNET reports the updated Hover 2 selfie drone by Zero Zero Robotics was fully funded through a $100,000 Kickstarter campaign in a matter of hours. Read more >

Lifestyle

Mall show

Verity Studios created a dancing drone light show to help a mall in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, celebrate its tenth anniversary. Read more and watch a video >

Lamb patrol

A quadcopter dubbed "Lambulance" is helping Australian farmers track their flocks. Read more >

Closing the gap

Female drone pilots are closing a gender gap in the United Kingdom. Read more >

Public Safety

Mapping the fire zone

Drone pilots collected 477 gigabytes of imagery in Butte County, California, enabling the posting of an interactive collection of maps, images, and video of the area devastated by the Camp Fire. Read more and watch a video >

More flights over people approved

The FAA has approved a waiver to allow public safety officials in Rutherford County, Tennessee, to conduct flights over people with the same drone CNN has been flying for that purpose. Read more >

Deciphering drone data

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is showing law enforcement agencies how to extract user data from drones. Read more >

Consider the return before investing

The CEO of Swiss drone firm Flyability suggests that you may not always need the latest and greatest. Read more >

Aerial patrol of iconic mountain

Lost hikers and others in need of assistance on Japan's Mount Fuji may soon hear a buzz overhead. Read more >

Regulation and Policy

UK logs first UAS conviction

A drone owner who flew too close to a police helicopter became the first person convicted of a drone crime in the United Kingdom. Read more >

Yellowstone pics prompt enforcement

Posting a drone photo taken in Yellowstone National Park landed a pilot in hot water. Read more and watch a video >

Some California parks now off-limits

A drone ban was recently implemented at many coastal California parks. Read more >

Another NYC drone bust

Steven Funes allegedly crashed his drone into Barclays' New York headquarters, and was arrested when he attempted to withdraw it. Read more >

News

Parrot cuts jobs

French drone maker Parrot has trimmed its workforce amid a sales slump. Read more >

Ions drive this drone

The day when some lucky drone pilot gets to say "engage the ion drive" is almost here. Read more >

Factory-flown parts

German car parts maker ZF in Friedrichshafen (also home of Europe's biggest aviation show) has landed the first approval to use drones to move spare parts around the premises. Read more >