Danville Community College (DCC) in Danville, Virginia recently launched a new UAS class.
On Friday, August 10, DCC Instructor Steven Carrigan conducted a three-hour introductory training session at the college with 12 students. On Saturday, August 11, the students participated in the hands-on portion of the course at a remote site in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
While instructing the students, Carrigan was joined by several Certified 107 Pilots volunteering their time, who helped teach students the dos and don’ts of operating UAS.
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Airborne Response expanding its force of UAS pilots for 2018 summer storm season
Miami-based Airborne Response, which describes itself as “the nation's premier provider of high resolution aerial imagery for emergency management and disaster response operations,” is expanding its force of FAA-certified remote pilots for commercial and emergency UAS operations across the U.S.
The company is doing this as the 2018 summer storm season started a few days earlier than expected with the formation of Subtropical Storm Alberto, which made U.S. landfall on May 28.
“Our seasonal ramp-up of UAS operators was already underway,” says Christopher Todd, President, Airborne Response.
D.C. to explore autonomous vehicle program through Interagency AV Working Group
In an effort to explore an autonomous vehicle (AV) program in the city, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the establishment of the Interagency AV Working Group on Feb. 12. The working group will “proactively prepare the District for AV technologies and ensure that AV deployment will benefit District residents and visitors.”
The working group is made up of District agencies focused on transportation, disability rights, environmental issues, and public safety. It also includes representatives from a variety of entities across D.C., including from the Office of the City Administrator, the District Department of Transportation, and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
Regulatory and Stakeholder Perspectives on the Future of UAS
The number of remote pilots using drones across an array of industries has opened the door for increased efficiency and productivity, but has also ushered in new challenges. Join AUVSI and industry stakeholders for a discussion of the evolving regulatory landscape and what it means for the drone industry.
Frank discussions between regulators and the drone community are important as both groups grapple with the safe integration of our technology into the national airspace. This webinar will provide community members with the opportunity to hear directly from regulators and ask their most pressing questions.
Who Should Attend
PrecisionHawk to launch 'nation's largest network of commercially licensed drone pilots' after acquisition of Droners.io and AirVid
PrecisionHawk Inc. has acquired two companies—Droners.io and AirVid—that have platforms that enable users to commission UAS pilots for commercial jobs.
PrecisionHawk will merge the companies to form a network of more than 15,000 commercially licensed UAS pilots, which will be the largest network of its kind, according to PrecisionHawk.
PrecisionHawk will continue to connect certified UAS pilots directly to customers. The company will also use the network to service its growing base of enterprise customers in insurance, agriculture, energy, construction and government, as it has received increasing demand for UAS flight services from the business and government sectors since 2016, when the FAA began allowing corporations to use UAS for commercial purposes.
GA-ASI demonstrates latest Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability using SATCOM data link for MQ-9B RPA
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has announced that it successfully demonstrated its latest Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability (ATLC) using a Satellite Communications (SATCOM) data link for its MQ-9B SkyGuardian/SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The demonstration also included the first SATCOM taxi of the MQ-9B.
GA-ASI says that with this capability, there will no longer be a need for a ground control station and pilot/flight crew to be located at the aircraft’s base, which will significantly reduce airlift requirements when the RPA is “forward deployed.”
AUVSI Trusted Operator Program Takes Off
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 9, 2018
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Media Advisory: “So You Want to Fly a Drone” Webinar, Nov. 29
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 29, 2017
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786
Mapping the Future: How Drones and Geospatial Technology Are Changing How We See the World
The ability to gather accurate data and images efficiently and economically has drastically improved how companies and individuals map their holdings and surroundings. Drone missions can gather data and images once only available via satellite. Increased availability has led to more markets investing in mapping capabilities, as they recognize the benefits of accessing clear and accurate renderings.
