The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today published updated guidance on model aircraft operations that reflects current law governing hobby or recreational use of unmanned aircraft. Advisory Circular (AC) 91-57A replaces the previous guidance that, as written in 1981, did not reflect the rules Congress wrote into Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act …
Close encounters with drones continue to cause major concerns for officials as the number of incidents continues to climb. The latest close call involved an LAPD helicopter. Drone Operator Taken Into Custody After Close Call (KABC-TV)
Government officials are currently looking into ways to reduce the number of drones incidents over brush fires. Proposals including new legislation to make it illegal to fly a drone over an active brush fire, and offering rewards for drone operators who interfered with firefighting efforts. Rewards to catch drone operators who flew above fires may …
Rewards Being Considered To Catch Drone Pilots Who Interfere With Brush Fire Efforts Read More »
Aerial firefighting efforts for the North Fire were suspended earlier today when a drone was spotted in the vicinity of the fire near the Cajon Pass. While firefighting operations resumed a short time later, the fire had spread and in the end, numerous passenger vehicles caught fire on the freeway as their owners fled on …
Drone Grounds Firefighting Aircraft Over Fire In Cajon Pass Read More »
The Office of Aviation Services has released a safety alert in response to the growing problem of drone usage over emergency incidents. Interagency Safety Alert 15-01: UAS Intrusions Impacting Incident Air Operations
Last month, we advised our members that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was soliciting input from the aviation community regarding future regulations affecting drone operations. PHPA representatives submitted a response based on our discussions with several key players, including helicopter operators, drone operators, air traffic controllers and others. Our submittal is attached below, but here …
PRESS RELEASE – PHPA Submits Drone Recommendations to FAA Read More »
This month, efforts to contain a wildfire in Southern California were hampered when firefighting aircraft crews spotted a drone operating nearby. Aerial firefighting efforts were immediately suspended while authorities tried to locate the drone and its operator. As regulations regarding drone use are ironed out, we are reminded once again that drone operations require a …
Things are moving fast on the regulatory front regarding drone operations. FAA Expects to Issue Commercial UAS Rule in 2016 (Avionics Today)
Dear PHPA Pilots and Helicopter Operators: Please note that the deadline for comments for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS” – the generic or plural of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or “UAV”), otherwise colloquially referred to as “drones”, is this coming Friday, April 24th. Small UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) …
