The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced 2 new rules for Unmanned Aircraft (UA), commonly known as drones. The new rules will require Remote Identification (Remote ID) of drones and allow operators of small drones to fly over people and at night under certain conditions. Drones now represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector – with currently over 1.7 million drone registrations and 203,000 … Read More
Access to Controlled Airspaces Advances Today
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today made it easier for drone pilots to quickly and safely access controlled airspace by adding 133 air traffic facilities to the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system. For those that do not know, LAANC is an automated application and approval system for drone pilots requesting to fly below 400 feet in controlled airspace. LAANC is a collaboration between FAA and Industry. It directly supports UAS integration into the airspace. As … Read More
FAA Tracking Number (FTN) Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the FTN, FAA Tracking Number The FTN is a number assigned to you by the FAA that stays with you throughout the course of your aviation career. Your FTN is assigned to you by the FAA after you complete your registration in IACRA or will already exist if you have a previous airman certificate. Please record your FTN as it will be required later by your instructor … Read More
FAA to Improve Airmen Certificate Testing
The Federal Aviation Administration announced today that on Jan. 13, 2020, it will launch improvements to the way it tests all applicants for an FAA airman certificate. This applies to all certified pilots of manned and unmanned aircraft. One of the most important changes is the requirement that applicants obtain an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) by creating an Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) profile prior to registering for a knowledge … Read More
UAS Operations Restricted At More Federal Facilities
WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) airspace restrictions over additional national security sensitive locations, effective November 7. In cooperation with its federal partners, the FAA will restrict UAS operations in the airspace over 60 additional Department of Defense and Department of Justice facilities to address concerns about malicious drone activity. An FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), FDC 9/7752, defines these special security instructions. … Read More
More Delays in Issuance of UAS Remote Identification Regulations
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Thursday October 3rd, that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS or drones) has been delayed yet again. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is now scheduled for release sometime in December of this year. These rules will address remote identification, which is the ability of a drone to transmit identifying information to other parties on the … Read More
FAA Updates DroneZone
DroneZone Portal Gets an Update Upgrades to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) DroneZone allows recreational flyers to request airspace authorizations in controlled airspace where the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is not available. Airspace authorizations can take up to 45 days to process and approve through the DroneZone. Recreational flyers may request to fly up to the designated altitude ceiling in an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Facility Map … Read More
National Drone Safety Awareness Week
The first National Drone Safety Awareness Week will be held in November 4-10, 2019 National Drone Safety Awareness Week will help educate the public about drone safety by highlighting how key sectors of the drone community are engaging with the public and spreading awareness throughout the U.S. During this week, the FAA will promote your safety stories, successes, events and educational programs. Everyone is welcome to participate in this weeklong … Read More
Drone Remote ID Rule
Drone Remote ID Rule Enters Regulatory Review UPDATE — The final rule has been released. Please read about the Remote ID rule here. There is movement on the FAA’s long-awaited draft rule to require a means of remotely identifying drones from the ground, despite the postponement of its release from September to December. On Sept. 12 the Remote ID proposed rule was submitted for regulatory review to the Office of … Read More
It’s Official. FAA and UAS Partners Successfully Demonstrate Traffic Management System
FAA, UAS Partners Complete Successful Demos The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA and their partners in a pilot program that is laying the groundwork for an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) traffic management system successfully demonstrated how such a system can work in the future. The demonstrations, conducted at three separate test sites selected by the FAA for the UAS Traffic Management Pilot Program (UPP), showed that multiple, Beyond Visual Line … Read More