The FAA has just updated its policy statement regarding the legal considerations applicable to state and local regulation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Originally issued in 2015, the FAA “fact sheet” was intended to...more
In the wake of several high profile “close calls” and increased scrutiny from Congress, acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen has issued a safety “call to action” memorandum for the FAA. The memorandum acknowledges that we...more
Will the FAA’s NOTAM system disaster turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Agency? If the FAA plays its cards right, the answer will be, “Yes.” On January 11, 2023, the FAA was forced to take the unprecedented step...more
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just released a 55-page report containing a series of recommendation for improving the FAA’s integration of drones into the National Airspace System (NAS). In conducting this...more
For the past ten years, Congress has attempted to establish a framework for how model aircraft and recreations flyers of unmanned aircraft should operate in the national airspace system. Through the FAA Reauthorization Act...more
The FAA’s remote identification rules for unmanned aircraft (Remote ID) are back on track. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has just rejected the last serious challenge to the...more
Counter-drone technology is being developed and deployed by governmental agencies at an increasing rate. In light of this, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittee on Aviation requested...more
Routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for unmanned aircraft took a major step forward yesterday, with the release of the long-awaited report from the Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) tasked with making...more
The new unmanned aircraft rules regarding remote identification and flight over persons are finally in effect, as of April 21, 2021. The final versions of these rules were released by the FAA on December 28, 2020, and...more
In a new decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals has held that when it comes to privacy and aerial surveillance, a landowner has a greatly enhanced expectation of privacy when unmanned aircraft are involved. The decision,...more
3/29/2021
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Appeals ,
Audio Recording ,
Drones ,
Fourth Amendment ,
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems ,
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Warrants
Over the past six years, there has been growing support in Congress for stripping the Federal Aviation Administration of some of its authority over the lower levels of the national airspace system. For example, the FAA...more
In a long awaited move, the interagency working group responsible for coordinating drone defense policy has issued guidance to the public about what they can and cannot do to combat unauthorized drone use. The guidance,...more
In the age of COVID-19, there is a renewed interest in the principles of federalism and the limits of federal power, including the power of the Federal Aviation Administration. More and more, commentators and legislators are...more
The manned and unmanned aviation communities do not see eye-to-eye on any number of issues. Each side has a vision of how unmanned aircraft fit into the National Airspace System, and each side continually engages with the FAA...more
As most readers know, the lack of a standard for the remote identification of unmanned aircraft has held up progress in a number of areas critical for integration of UAS into the national airspace system. Rules for flight...more