Aug 22 Lawsuits challenge FAA ban on commercial drone flights By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The FAA has been working on regulations that would permit commercial drone flights in U.S. skies for more than 10 years, but the agency is still at least months and possibly years away from issuing final rules to permit flights… Continue reading
Aug 07 Drone crashes in Yellowstone hot spring, causing potential damage By Ariel Min What happens when a drone crashes into one of the world’s largest hot springs? The aircraft might potentially damage the spring, but trying to remove it might cause even more damage. Continue reading
Jul 12 Amazon files petition to test drive package-carrying drones By Xander Landen What was first designed to be a predator of war may soon be your new mailman – that is, if Amazon gets its way. Continue reading
Jun 30 FAA won't meet 2015 deadline for drone regulations, report says By Joan Lowy, Associated Press Despite years of research, the Federal Aviation Administration hasn't figured out what kind of technology unmanned aircraft should use to avoid crashing into other planes and to prevent lost links with ground control stations, Matthew Hampton, the Transportation Department's assistant… Continue reading
Jun 27 Watch Unease in Baghdad grows amid echoes of past sectarian strife By PBS News Hour The U.S. is now flying armed drones over Baghdad to protect U.S. civilians and military forces in the Iraqi capital, the Pentagon confirmed. Also, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that ISIL conducted mass executions of more than 160… Continue watching
Jun 27 U.S. flying armed drones over Baghdad, Pentagon says By Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. has armed drones flying over Baghdad to protect U.S. troops that recently arrived to assess Iraq's deteriorating security, the Pentagon said Friday. The military for more than a week has been flying manned and unmanned aircraft… Continue reading
Jun 24 Amazon drone plan runs into FAA challenge By Sam Lane The Federal Aviation Administration has, at least for now, squashed plans by online shopping giant Amazon to deliver packages via drone. Continue reading
Jun 20 National Park Service moves to ban drones By Joan Lowy, Associated Press Jonathan Jarvis, the park service's director, told The Associated Press he doesn't want drones flushing birds from their nests, hovering over rock climbers as they cling to the sides of cliffs or buzzing across the face of Mount Rushmore. Jarvis… Continue reading
Jun 10 FAA OKs commercial drone flights over land By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it has granted the first permission for commercial drone flights over land, the latest effort by the agency to show it is loosening restrictions on commercial uses of the unmanned aircraft. Continue reading
May 29 CIA drone strike program targeting Pakistan winds down By Ken Dilanian, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Just after midnight last Christmas, Pakistani officials say, two Hellfire missiles from a U.S. drone slammed into a house in Miramshah, Pakistan, killing four militants. It was an otherwise unremarkable episode in the sixth year of a relentless… Continue reading