So, parts of North America have been enjoying an unbelievable spell of weather these past few days. As a result, people have been maximizing their outdoor activities – trying to soak up every last bit of sunny goodness before November returns to her grey, wet self. We, naturally, went flying. At least for a bit.
Expand Expanding Close
And you thought the FAA was strict. Citizens, businesses, and local governments in Kenya have just won the legal right to own and operate drones. After a protracted fight, Kenya has legalized drones with passage of the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations Act of 2019. Previously it was technically illegal for anyone but the military to have a drone in the country.
One of the treaths against our ability to fly drones comes from states, municipalities, and landowners as they try to use privacy concerns and private property rights to ban drone flights over their property. Even though the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently restated that only they control the airspace in the U.S., now the State of Oklahoma considers drone restrictions for hobbyist drone pilots.
With the states in the west of the United States seeing historic wildfires, efforts to extinguish the flames are at an all-time high. In a massive, 100,000 acre wildfire devastating Idaho, all aircraft were forced to land for an hour and a half after a drone was spotted in the airspace, according to Channel 4 Utah.
Multiple wildfires within the B.C. Interior have sprung up over the past week after lightning struck the forest. The fires were aided by a mixture of hot and dry weather. According to BC Wildfire Service; air operations were suspended and firefighting aircraft were diverted on Monday after the sighting of a drone above the Wilson Creek fire, located 19km east of Nakusp.
To clear up any misunderstanding there may be around Local and Federal drone regulations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement explaining exactly where things stand. State and Local authorities may determine the take-off and landing areas for drones but only the FAA has the authority to control the National Airspace.
On July 12th a small drone was recovered on the tarmac near a fence within San Francisco International Airport. While not impeding any flights, this incident certainly raises questions about how airports can ensure safety to manned aircraft that are taking off and landing. Although it might look harmless, the fear is that these small drones can have a big impact on the integrity of the larger manned aircraft in case of a collision. According to the FAA rules, you’re not allowed to fly your drone within a 5-mile radius of any airport, unless you have obtained special permission. It is unclear at this point in time, what kind of drone has been found, who flew it and why it was flown so close to the airport.
Finding the perfect spot to practice your drone flying is difficult, especially if you’re someone who lives in a densely populated area like Chicago. Flying around buildings is never the safest option, sometimes it’s even considered illegal, and even pesky trees can become annoying when learning to fly. The easiest drone flying is done in an open area where you can fly at fast speeds and not have to worry about obstacles, and the Park District in Naperville agrees as they have designated a park field for drone flights.
Greenpeace, an independent global organization focused on conserving the environment and peace, flew a Superman-themed drone into the side of a French nuclear power plant located in Bugey. Their plan was to demonstrate the plant’s vulnerability to outside attacks such as a drone, piloted by one of their activists.
Chances are if you own a drone you have thought about filming your 4th of July fireworks from the air. While an aerial perspective would make quite a good video to look back on, the FAA reminded us last Saturday that drones and fireworks do not mix well together.
Skyguide and AirMap join forces to bring Europe’s first unmanned traffic system for drones to Switzerland. The so-called U-Space system has been deployed and tested since June 2018 and is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2019. Regardless of the name (U-Space or UTM as we call it in the US) an automated drone traffic management system is considered a requirement to safely integrate unmanned air traffic on a large scale into the manned airspace and thus to allow services such as drone deliveries, inspections, and other services.
Career-criminal Redoine Faid escaped from Reau Prison located just south of Paris, France, with the help of a heavily armed team. This team arrived by helicopter and broke Faid out using brute force. Just months before his escape, drones were spotted flying above the prison which are now believed to be linked to the breakout.
You are an avid drone flier and you have booked a trip to Spain. Can you bring your drone along? Are you allowed to fly your drone in Spain? What about any insurance requirements and permits? What are the drone regulations in Spain? Do you know?