General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA‑ASI) recently marked the 25th anniversary of its Predator A UAS, which completed its first flight in July 1994, and made its operational debut the following year.
More than 320 Predator As have been delivered to customers across the world in support of global security. The product line remained in production until 2011.
Predator As have flown almost 141,000 missions, and have surpassed two million flight hours. GA-ASI notes that almost all of those hours were flown in support of combat missions.
“With innovation in mind, we have always looked for ways to challenge the industry standard,” says Linden Blue, CEO, GA-ASI.
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DroneDeploy launches single platform for all UAS operations
DroneDeploy has launched a single platform for all UAS operations.
The new product release includes several features, including: Drone Operations Management; Workflow Integrations; Inspection with Manual Flight; Drone Academy and Earthworks. A thorough analysis of the new features can be found here.
“Today's product launch is a reflection of the demand from our customers for a complete enterprise-grade drone operating system,” says DroneDeploy chief executive officer and co-founder Mike Winn.
Involi, AirMap developing pre-integrated UTM and Air Traffic Awareness platform
Involi, a provider of air traffic data for UAS, is partnering with AirMap to develop a pre-integrated UTM and Air Traffic Awareness platform for safe, efficient, and scalable UAS operations.
By combining its low-altitude air traffic data service with AirMap’s drone traffic management platform, Involi says that the companies can facilitate safe, complex, and autonomous UAS applications such as drone delivery, large-scale agriculture support, surveying and mapping.
“It was a natural progression for Involi and AirMap to formalize their ongoing technical integration,” says Involi CEO and co-founder Manu Lubrano.
Task force interim report on drone incursions at airports calls for remote ID, agency-industry cooperation
The Blue Ribbon Task Force of UAS Mitigation at Airports, announced at AUVSI's Xponential trade show this year, has released an interim report on its work and says the remote identification of drones is a critical first step to airport security.
Victoria Police establishes Drone Unit
Australia’s Victoria Police has established a new Drone Unit, which will provide the agency with the ability to use UAS for various tasks across the state.
The central point for the agency’s UAS services will be the police aviation unit of the Victoria Police, the Police Air Wing. Police Air Wing will manage the UAS, and provide training to other units.
The Drone Unit will look to “progressively” train officers from specialist units like the Operations Response Unit, as well as the Search and Rescue unit. The Drone Unit will also train regional officers so that they can provide their own localized basic UAS services.
Woolpert receives approval from PennDOT to use UAS for state projects
International architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm Woolpert has become the first provider to receive approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to use UAS for state projects.
On July 2, Woolpert had surveying, mapping and geospatial professionals complete PennDOT's UAS training, which is part of the agency’s certification process. UAS operators are also required to obtain a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate through the FAA.
NUAIR validates parachute for Flytrex's package delivery drones
Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research (NUAIR) has announced that it has validated the parachute on the package delivery drones of Israel-based drone company Flytrex as compliant with industry standards, after completing extensive testing at the New York UAS Test Site in Rome, New York.
For NUAIR, this is the second parachute standard validation that it has performed. NUAIR says that the validation advances the potential for commercial drone package delivery and routine flights over people.
“NUAIR is proud to provide companies with this level of standards testing at the New York UAS Test Site,” says Tony Basile, chief operations officer at NUAIR.
CerbAir, AirMap partner to enhance low-altitude airspace safety
European counter-UAS manufacturer CerbAir has announced plans to work with AirMap to provide “integrated, comprehensive solutions” for low-altitude airspace safety and security.
CerbAir and AirMap say that through their partnership, they will respond to the “urgent need” to combine efficient UAS traffic management with reliable protection from rogue or accidental UAS intrusions.
