by Greg Carter | Mar 7, 2016 | UAV
Source: Chemical and Engineering News, By Sarah Everts and Matt Davenport Every year, an estimated 30–40% of crop yield is lost to agricultural pests—an alarming statistic for those concerned with food security, our planet’s rising human population, and the imminent threats to crops laid bare by climate change. Although scientists have long studied plant pathogens, most of the work has been at the microscopic level, learning the basic biology of these pests, or at the macroscopic scale, learning how these pests travel across continents by collecting samples near the ground, says Virginia Tech’s David G. Schmale III. What’s missing is a detailed understanding of pathogens’ so-called mesoscale transport. That’s transport that takes place over tens or hundreds of kilometers, from one infected field to another in the next county or state. This is where drones can help. Schmale’s team studies the travel plans of these tiny plant predators by following them through the air with a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying everything from petri dishes to surface plasmon resonance machines that can capture and detect specific pathogens on specially designed surfaces. In particular, Schmale has his eye on the fungus Fusarium graminearum, which he says is “a very common pathogen of corn and small grains that you find in virtually every wheat, barley, or corn field in the U.S .” The fungus delivers a one-two punch to crops: First, it interferes with plant growth by shriveling and shrinking kernels, which results in a reduced harvest. Second, F. graminearum produces a potent toxin called deoxynivalenol, which is also known as vomitoxin because of its deleterious...
by Greg Carter | Mar 7, 2016 | UAV
Source: UAS Magazine, By Patrick C. Miller | March 03, 2016 The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week announced the formation of a committee for rulemaking on micro unmanned aerial systems (UAS), but a UAS attorney questions whether the new rules will be ready within the next year. “I saw a couple of news stories that made it sound like this was a positive step in terms of speeding along the implementation of micro UAS,” said James Mackler, an attorney with the Frost Brown Todd law firm in Nashville who specializes in UAS law. “That’s not what’s happening at all—it’s the opposite.” The FAA said it was taking the action to “provide a more flexible, performance-based approach” than previously considered for micro UAS. The committee is expected to begin meeting in March and issue a final report on April 1. The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) has accepted an invitation to serve on the committee. “The short deadline reinforces our commitment to a flexible regulatory approach that can accommodate innovation while maintaining today’s high levels of safety,” said Anthony Foxx, U.S. transportation secretary. According to the FAA, rather than focusing on a weight class for micro UAS, it will determine which drones are safe to fly over crowds through a performance-based standard. It will consider human injury thresholds, hazard and risk assessment methodologies and acceptable levels of risk for those not involved in the operation. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said, “Based on the comments about a ‘micro’ classification submitted as part of the small UAS proposed rule, the FAA will pursue a flexible, performance-based regulatory framework...
by Greg Carter | Dec 14, 2015 | UAV
Source: FAA If you own a drone, you must register it with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) registry. A federal law effective December 21, 2015 requires unmanned aircraft registration, and you are subject to civil and criminal penalties if you do not register. What’s covered by the new registration system? Q. Who is required to register on the new online UAS registration website? A. Only individual recreational or hobby users who meet U.S. citizenship requirements are able to register their unmanned aircraft using this new streamlined web-based process. This new, faster and easier system will be available for other UAS owners soon. Q. Which unmanned aircraft may register under the new registration requirements? A. Unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds and more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft and operated outdoors in the national airspace system must register. These aircraft may register under the new web-based registration system. More information can be found: FAA website...
by Greg Carter | Dec 3, 2015 | UAV
Source: FAA Did you know you’re also going to become a pilot? When you fly your drone anywhere in the nation’s airspace, you automatically become part of the U.S. aviation system. Under the law, your drone is an aircraft. So while the rules for drones may be different, you have the responsibility to operate safely, just as a Cessna or 747 pilot does. ...
by Greg Carter | Oct 22, 2015 | AMA National News, District News, UAV
Source: The Washington Post Federal regulators to require registration of recreational drones Source: AMA Dear Members, As you might be aware, in a press conference on Monday October 19, 2015, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced its intent to require registration for certain small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Led by Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, a concept was laid out calling for the creation of a task force to develop a plan to implement the registration process. AMA was represented at the press conference by Government and Regulatory Affairs Representative Rich Hanson who offered comments on behalf of our organization. Representatives from the Association for Unmanned Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) and the Air Line Pilots Association also provided input. A video of the press conference can be found here. AMA has also been invited to participate in the task force which has been charged with completing its work by mid-November 2015. The DOT is looking at the full spectrum of sUAS that would be subject to registration, and AMA agrees that registration may be appropriate at some level; however, before the process can be established, AMA believes that a threshold must be identified that will determine which platforms, what aircraft with what capabilities, will require registration and which will not. AMA believes that traditional model aircraft, as well as the “toy-type” drones with minimal capability would fall below the threshold and not be subject to the registration process. In a prepared statement released yesterday, AMA was clear in its position that any required registration process “should not become a prohibitive burden for recreational users...
