World Economic Forum’s `Medicine from the Sky` Drone Delivery Programme Set for Take-off in Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh

Medicine from the Sky, a flagship initiative by the World Economic Forum, is to be launched in Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India, on Independence Day.

The aim is to document how health systems in remote parts of the state respond to the integration of drone-based supply chains. After numerous confidence-building pilot schemes across the country, the Arunachal Pradesh initiative focuses on a more elaborate agenda involving deeper operational planning and observations.

Medicine from the Sky – Arunachal Pradesh is a six-month project aimed at analysing the response of the state’s healthcare system when integrated with drones

The pilot project is a culmination of regional confidence-building measures in the healthcare sector following the liberalization of India’s drone economy in 2021

Under the Forum-Arunachal Pradesh collaboration agreement, village chiefs will create “drone ambassadors” to raise awareness among local youth

 

The six-month programme will be centred around four pillars:

Basic healthcare needs – regular services for vaccines; iron, folic acid, nutrition supplements; prophylactic and mass drug administration; diagnostic sample collection; emergency medications; blood and blood products

Ecosystem skill levels, terrain, weather considerations – identification of local stakeholders, including engineering, medical, paramedical, humanities and management colleges; technical and skill development institutes; find continuous source for weather data and real-time prediction

Survivability, scalability and sustainability – resource estimation, impact assessment and economics

Stress testing of drone platforms – ascertaining ability of available technologies to handle undulating terrain

“In mid-2021, we undertook a field study in Arunachal Pradesh, along with the Public Health Foundation of India, to learn more about the local health distribution system, disease profile and the nature of the terrain. Traversing the Seppa-Bameng belt by road, in particular, made it evident that drones were an absolute necessity,” said Vignesh Santhanam, Lead, Aerospace and Drones, World Economic Forum.

Volkswagen Group in China unveils passenger drone prototype

Volkswagen Group China has unveiled its first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) passenger drone prototype, as part of its strategy to explore and break new ground in fully electric and sustainable individual mobility concepts. 

In 2020, Volkswagen Group China launched a Vertical Mobility project to explore the next generation of mobility solutions, including the urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace. After intensive research, conceptual work, and development, the project team has now developed its first validation model – the V.MO. This initial prototype has also been nicknamed the ‘Flying Tiger’ due to its distinctive black and gold livery, which was painted to commemorate its launch in the Year of the Tiger.

Urban air mobility is set to become a key market segment and the Group’s Vertical Mobility project in China is developing a new premium mobility concept aimed initially at high-net worth tech-savvy Chinese customers.

CEO Wöllenstein: “Our long-term aim is to industrialize this concept and, like a ‘Flying Tiger’, break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market.”

The prototype concept is based on existing autonomous driving solutions and battery technology for emission-free mobility. With a luxury x-wing configuration of 11.2m in length and a span width of 10.6m, the model features eight rotors for vertical lift and two propellers for horizontal flight. The Group will conduct several flight tests later this year to optimize the concept and an improved prototype will undergo further advanced test flights by late summer 2023. In its final future iteration, the fully electric and automated eVTOL could eventually carry four passengers plus luggage over a distance of up to 200km.

Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, Dr. Thomas Manfred Müller, Executive Vice President responsible for Group R&D, and the Vertical Mobility project team

Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, pictured above with the project team, said: “Through this pilot project, we are bringing Volkswagen’s long tradition of precision engineering, design, and innovation to the next level, by developing a premium product that will serve the vertical mobility needs of our future tech savvy Chinese customers. This is a pioneering project which our young team of Chinese experts started from scratch – they are working with new design concepts and materials while developing new safety standards, disrupting and innovating every step of the way. The launch of this stunning validation model – the V.MO – is the first of many remarkable milestones on our exciting journey towards urban air travel, and a perfect example of our ‘From China, For China’ mission. Our long-term aim is to industrialize this concept and, like a ‘Flying Tiger’, break new ground in this emerging and fast-evolving new mobility market.”

Volkswagen Group China is rapidly expanding local R&D and software expertise to respond faster to what customers want and significantly accelerate the pace of innovation. With all results monitored and shared with the Chinese government, the Vertical Mobility project requires interdisciplinary and innovative thinking in a new field, and the Group formed a team of young, local experts to drive it forward. They have been supported by Chinese partners including Hunan Sunward Technology, a subsidiary of Hunan-based manufacturing group Sunward. The company specializes in aviation product development, sales and services and is a market leader in the light sport aircraft industry.

Urban air mobility is a fast-emerging market which aims to utilize air space for short- and medium-distance connections, especially above and between large cities. In China, it is set to play a significant role in the future of urban and intercity transportation in its congested megacities. In the first phase of its commercial use, V.MO is likely to be pitched as a premium product for high-net worth tech savvy Chinese customers, for example for VIP air shuttle services. eVTOL air vehicles will be able to transport passengers more quickly and efficiently than current conventional means of terrestrial transport and with greater flexibility. As the Vertical Mobility project develops, Volkswagen Group China will work with the relevant Chinese authorities to achieve certification.

Following the launch of Volkswagen Group China’s electrical Vertical Take-off and Landing air vehicle (eVTOL) prototype – the V.MO, we speak to Zhou Jin, Project Manager & Product Owner, to find out more about the project and its next steps.

FedEx Plans to Test Autonomous Drone Cargo Delivery with Elroy Air

FedEx and Elroy Air work to launch test flights aimed

 at middle-mile delivery in 2023

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx and the world’s largest express transportation company, is teaming up with California Bay Area-based Elroy Air, the company building the first end-to-end autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aerial cargo system. As a first of its kind agreement in the U.S., FedEx Express will develop plans to test Elroy Air’s Chaparral autonomous air cargo system within the company’s middle-mile logistics operations, moving shipments between sortation locations. This is the latest initiative from FedEx in its effort to explore and adopt emerging technologies across its networks.

The exponential growth of e-commerce has accelerated the demand for reliable, efficient transportation and logistics solutions throughout all stages of the supply chain. FedEx believes that continued innovation and automation will improve safety, efficiency, and productivity for the company’s 600,000 team members as they continue to move the world forward.

“FedEx was built on innovation and we are always looking toward new technologies to help enhance the logistics industry through improved safety, efficiency and customer service,” said Joe Stephens, senior vice president, global planning, engineering and technology, FedEx Express. “We look forward to continued testing and learning throughout our collaboration with Elroy Air.”

Elroy Air announced its signature Chaparral autonomous aircraft in January 2022. The Chaparral aircraft is an eVTOL aerial cargo system that can autonomously pick up 300-500 pounds of cargo and deliver it by air up to 300 miles. The Chaparral is capable of longer-range flights without the need for additional infrastructure, such as airports or charging stations.

“We are proud to work with FedEx to build the next generation of express logistics,” said Kofi Asante, Elroy Air’s VP of Business Development and Strategy. “When you’re not limited by challenging infrastructure, traffic, or airports, logistics can reach more people, faster than ever before. We look forward to working together to create a new future for how we get goods to people around the world.”

FedEx and Elroy Air have been working together since January 2020 and will continue their collaboration to pursue certifications and begin flight testing in 2023.

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Airbus selects Avio Aero engine solution for Eurodrone

 

                                  Following a competitive tender process as well as an extensive technical analysis phase, Airbus has selected Avio Aero from Italy to power the Eurodrone unmanned aerial system with its engine and propeller solution, dubbed Catalyst.

“This selection is a decisive step forward and will ensure that the Eurodrone programme can proceed on time, on cost and in line with the specifications laid out by our customers. The Catalyst was identified as the best solution based on superior performance, lower developmental risk, better in-service economics as well as growth potential. In line with customer requirements, Catalyst will offer a truly European solution and will thus contribute to the overall role of Eurodrone as an enabler of strategic autonomy”, said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Aircraft at Airbus Defence and Space.

The Catalyst is an engine proven in flight, entirely developed and manufactured in Europe. As well as the Eurodrone programme, this engine has been conceived as 100% ITAR-free (International Traffic in Arms Regulation), thus enabling independence on export chances and avoiding additional requirements prior export clearance.

As part of its responsibilities as main subcontractor for this major collaborative European programme, Airbus Defence and Space is responsible for the selection of the engine supplier. 

Key aspects in the selection of Eurodrone suppliers are competitiveness, performance, the ability to meet the demanding delivery schedule and the capacity to meet the in-service demand.

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Airbus partners with Spirit AeroSystems to develop the wings of CityAirbus NextGen

Airbus partners with Spirit AeroSystems to develop the wings of CityAirbus NextGen

 Airbus has signed an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems through its subsidiary for the development of CityAirbus NextGen’s wings. This partnership will support Airbus’ exploration of disruptive aircraft design while complying with the most stringent regulations.

Spirit AeroSystems will be responsible for developing and manufacturing CityAirbus NextGen’s wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Both partners’ ambition is to achieve a minimum weight solution while ensuring the highest levels of safety. The structural concept of the eVTOL’s fixed wings will be able to transmit the related aerodynamic loads while being optimized for the right balance between hover and cruise efficiency. CityAirbus NextGen’s distributed propulsion system will contribute to reducing the influence of air turbulence.

“The partnership with Spirit AeroSystems is an important step for the development of CityAirbus NextGen and its wings are key structural components for flight efficiency,” said Jörg Müller, Head of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) at Airbus. “To build this vehicle, we are proud to work with Spirit as a strategic partner who benefits from a proven track record in this field, and extensive experience in component quality and airworthiness.”

With a significant UK footprint, particularly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerostructures and builds on years of manufacturing expertise in major aircraft components and architecture solutions. Its longstanding relationship with Airbus includes the provision of fully integrated wings and wing elements for multiple Airbus commercial aircraft. Extending existing collaboration between Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems, this partnership is a further sign of the Company’s commitment in the United Kingdom.

The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen is an eVTOL prototype equipped with fixed wings, a V-shaped tail, and eight electrically powered propellers as part of its distributed propulsion system. CityAirbus NextGen is being developed to fly with a 80km operational range and to reach a cruise speed of 120 km/h, making it perfectly suited for a variety of missions. Airbus is developing a UAM solution with eVTOLs not only to offer a new mobility service in urban areas and beyond but also as an important step in its quest to reduce emissions in aviation all over its product range.

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Airbus and OCCAR sign Eurodrone contract

Airbus and the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) have signed the Eurodrone global contract, which includes the development and manufacturing of 20 systems and 5 years of initial in-service support. Industry prime Airbus Defence and Space GmbH signed in representation of the three Major Sub-Contractors (MSC) Airbus Defence and Space S.A.U in Spain, Dassault Aviation in France and Leonardo S.p.A. in Italy, while OCCAR has signed on behalf of the four launch nations Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

“This signature kicks off the development of one of the most ambitious European defence programmes. Eurodrone is the result of collaborative work between the industry, OCCAR and the nations. It will deliver the most advance Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in its segment, generate more than 7,000 high-tech jobs within the industry and will strengthen European industrial sovereignty, know-how and collaboration between nations”, said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.   

“This contract marks the determination of the European nations and industrial partners to achieve the political goals and to meet the technological challenges leading to European defence sovereignty. Innovative programmes with strong key technological foundations will guarantee the strategic autonomy of Europe by offering new alternatives to the on-the-shelf acquisition of non-European products. Thanks to a shared vision and a pragmatic approach, Eurodrone is carried by the choice of best in-house competencies and expertise of each company”, declared Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.

Vertical & Heathrow to collaborate on future of urban air mobility

Vertical Aerospace has announced a collaboration with London Heathrow Airport to explore how Vertical's VA-X4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle could operate from the busy London airport from the mid-2020s. Both parties will work closely to explore how this new technology can fit into existing operations at the airport, build an understanding of the regulatory changes that would be required, maximise potential job opportunities and minimise any potential impacts on communities surrounding the airport.

With speeds of up to 200 mph, Vertical's piloted eVTOL will be able to transport four passengers in near silence from Heathrow to the City of London in 12 minutes, with zero operating emissions and at a cost similar to a taxi. This new agreement comes as interest in the future of urban air mobility is growing, with major airlines already operating at Heathrow keen to see the technology develop. Virgin Atlantic has already announced a partnership for the UK launch of an eVTOL network with Vertical and conditional pre-order options for up to 150 VA-X4s.

By working together, Vertical and Heathrow expect to help Britain maintain its leading position in sustainable aviation technologies and support moves to a low carbon economy to help meet the Government's net-zero ambitions to make the UK net-zero by 2050.

Vertical's top-tier global customers include American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow Group, Iberojet and Marubeni Corporation. Through these relationships, Vertical believes that it has the largest conditional pre-order book in the eVTOL industry, of up to 1,350 aircraft worth $5.4bn. Vertical's eVTOL aims to be an industry leader in safety, being on track to be certified to the highest global standards and matching the safety performance of airline passenger jets.

Reliable Robotics Raises $100 Million to Expand Access to More Places With Remotely Piloted Cargo Operations

Aautomated aircraft systems firm Reliable Robotics has confirmed a $100 million Series C funding round led by Coatue Management has been completed. Coatue joins past investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Eclipse Ventures, Teamworthy Ventures and Pathbreaker Ventures to bring total fundraising over $133 million. 

With its innovative airframe independent technology, Reliable’s Remotely Operated Aircraft System is designed to expand safe, flexible and efficient air transportation service to more locations. The capital raised enables the company to scale its team to support its first aircraft certification program and expedite the launch of commercial cargo operations.

“We believe Reliable Robotics is a leader in aircraft automation for commercial aviation,” said Jaimin Rangwalla, a Senior Managing Director at Coatue. “We were impressed by the team's clear vision, measured certification progress and track record of industry achievement. We are proud and excited to support Reliable’s goal to be the first to deliver FAA-certified, remotely piloted systems to market.”

Reliable Robotics is positioned to unlock access to thousands of underutilized regional and municipal airports in all corners of the country, greatly expanding air transportation options for cargo and eventually passengers. The company’s technology handles all phases of flight including taxi, takeoff, landing and parking, while licensed pilots remotely supervise each flight from a control centre. The system has the capability to autoland on smaller airstrips in rural or remote areas without requiring expensive infrastructure to be installed and maintained.

Successful First Public Flight of Volocopter's VoloDrone

Volocopter's electric heavy-lift drone VoloDrone conducted its first public flight yesterday, Tuesday 12th October, at ITS World Congress 2021. Together with the international logistics leader DB Schenker, Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), demonstrated VoloDrone's seamless integration into the logistics supply chain with an end-to-end cargo transport demonstration. The partners showed their significant progress together since DB Schenker became a strategic investor of Volocopter in early 2020.

The 3-minute test flight took off at 3:02 p.m at homePORT Hamburg and reached a maximum altitude of 22 meters. For this delivery simulation, the electric heavy-lift utility drone was equipped with a load-box in between its landing gear. First, the demonstration teams secured a Euro-pallet sized load to the box under the VoloDrone, followed by a smooth take-off. After this, the aircraft brought the payload to a DB Schenker Cargo Bike and landed safely. Once the payload was transferred successfully, the Cargo Bike delivered its cargo to the final destination under the area's park deck, marking the completion of the entirely electric, multimodal last-mile delivery.

"This first public VoloDrone flight is a strong sign for Volocopter´s leading position in the UAM industry. We are the only UAM company offering solutions for passengers and goods that are flying fully scaled and publicly around the world," says Florian Reuter, Volocopter CEO. "Our VoloDrone will make existing logistics processes more robust, efficient, and sustainable. DB Schenker is an invaluable partner in our endeavour to untap the massive potential of our VoloDrone's logistics use cases."

Minister for Civil Aviation launches India’s first Drone Medicine Delivery project ‘Medicines From The Sky’

.Mr. Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt of India launches ‘Medicine From The Sky, Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight’ at a function held at Vikarabad, 75 km away from Hyderabad in Telangana on Saturday. 

Telangana's 'Medicines From The Sky' project can be a game-changer in using drones for healthcare. The project is the first of its kind in India. It is also a potential game-changer for using drones in the civilian sector in India. 

It is an initiative of the Government of Telangana led by the Emerging Technologies Wing of the IT Department in partnership with World Economic Forum, NITI Aayog and Apollo Hospitals’ HealthNet Global.

The Consortia partners Marut Drones’ HepiCopter, Blue Dart’s Sky Air and Tech Eagle’s Cure Fly showcased their capabilities and demonstrated the same to the guests. 

Out of the three drone companies, Marut Drones is a T-Hub incubated Startup. 

Citadel Defense Secures $4M Contract for AI Counter Drone Solution

Citadel Defense has secured $4M in new government contracts in June as demand for combat-proven counter-drone solutions accelerates. Rapid proliferation of small, low-cost drones threatens personnel and critical assets, impacting the military’s ability to conduct successful operations. Unmanned systems have been used by terrorists to collect intelligence, bypass ground-based physical barriers, and carry out highly effective attacks.

The undisclosed government customer has selected Citadel’s Titan as the preferred radio frequency sensor for both standalone and highly integrated layered defence solutions. The Titan systems will be utilized for pre-deployment training, mobile security, and fixed site protection.

“Citadel’s advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence, and autonomous capabilities serve as a force multiplier when protecting against unmanned system threats in resource-constrained environments,” explained Christopher Williams, CEO of Citadel Defense.

Home Office, Police and CAA join together to act on drone crime

 Operation Foreverwing will raise awareness of enforcement work taking place around drones

 

    More than 330 drone-related incidents recorded during the last five months 

The Home Office, Police and UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) have announced a new campaign aimed at clamping down on drone-related crimes, after 336 drone-related incidents were recorded during the last five months in the UK.

The new campaign, Operation Foreverwing, will see the three organisations work together to show the work the Police is doing around tackling drone crime, in a bid to deter drone owners from breaking the rules.

The Police has dedicated drone teams located across the country, tasked with enforcing the law by handing out fines and confiscating drones if people fail to stick to the rules.  With the CAA setting the rules for drone flying, the campaign will raise awareness of the rules while reminding those tempted to break them of the consequences.

Skyfront Drone Sets Endurance and Distance Record of 13 hours, 4 minutes

Skyfront, the leading manufacturer of long-endurance gasoline-electric hybrid drones, broke the multirotor drone flight time record by staying airborne for 13 hours and 4 minutes and travelling a distance of 205 miles. The world record-breaking flight was achieved by the lightweight, powerful, and efficient Skyfront Perimeter 8—the company’s most advanced eight rotor drone designed to meet and exceed the capabilities of even the most advanced helicopters. The historic event was captured via the drone’s onboard 360 cameras, which can be seen below - link: http://bit.ly/SkyfrontWorldRecord

The UK's Ministry of Defence is seeking new ways to assist military drone operators in urban environments in a new funding competition.

The Ministry of Defence is seeking new ways to assist military drone operators in urban environments in a new funding competition.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) are seeking innovative and novel solutions to assist military drone operators to improve usability in challenging and complex urban operations.

This cross-departmental requirement between DASA and DE&S is designed for the rapid exploitation of technology and is the first of its kind.

Up to £900,000 is available for successful proposals that can help the Ministry of Defence overcome three challenges.

The first challenge is the development of an optimised Unmanned Air System suitable for use in urban environments.

The second challenge is to develop a human-controlled lethal payload that could integrate with a platform outlined in the first challenge.

AirMap and the U.S. Department of Defense to commercialise the AirBoss Aerial Intelligence Platform

   AirMap, a leading digital airspace and automation company serving the drone economy, has won a US Department of Defense (DoD) award to commercialize its AirBoss platform. AirBoss is an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) software platform designed for Group 1 UAVs and developed together with Reveal Technology and the DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit.

AirMap, the leading digital airspace and automation company serving the drone economy, has won a US Department of Defense (DoD) award to commercialize AirBoss, its Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) software platform.

The DoD recently announced $13.4 million in Title III investments to support the domestic small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) industrial base and further enhance the US warfighter’s situational awareness, improve human-machine teaming, and provide engineering support for aiding the integration of sUAS capabilities into DoD programs. Under this investment, AirMap received $3.3M to aid product development and engineering support for integration of sUAS mission planning, post-mission analysis, and unmanned traffic management software. The award coincides with the launch of the AirMap Defense Group (ADG), a defense and security business unit that provides mission-critical technologies to the DoD. AirMap is working closely with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab to enhance and field test the AirBoss platform with small quadrotors.

All you need to know about drones......

Photo HobbyHelp

Ever wondered what it was like to fly a drone?   Have you seen other people doing it down at the beach or in the local park and thought, I'd like a go at that?

Well, if you have,  then you, like me will have loads of questions, for which you'll find many of the answers on a handy and informative drone beginner’s guide, written by Jenny over at Hobby Help.  This guide covers the fundamentals, from choosing which drone to buy, to figuring out relevant laws and regulations as well as other things like travelling with your drone and how to keep it in the best possible condition.

Jenny says, "I bought my first drone several years ago with the goal of trying out aerial photography and videography. I’m lucky to live in an area with striking natural landscapes and many areas that permit drone flights, so I was curious to see how everything would look from above. Over time, I’ve also come to love the challenge of learning new skills and increasing my control as I manoeuvre my drone with pinpoint precision."

In the guide, Jenny talks us through what sort of drones to buy, how high-end to go with some key recommendations that will help take the headache out of choosing from such a large array of drones that are now widely available.

Of course, it is not just the drone that you'll need,  almost certainly you'll want to enhance the experience with some other bits and bobs. But, what accessories and extras should you plan to buy? Jenny has the answers and on the guide is a good list of handy things you might need or want - such as propeller guards, lens filters, memory cards and so on.

There are also sections on drone laws, flying responsibly as well as advice on overcoming some of the more common pitfalls and challenges of buying, flying and owning a drone. Visit The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Flying Drones on the link below.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Flying Drones

Another source of information and advice is the CAA's Drone Safe site which has details of airfield restrictions, rules, regulations as well as being the place where anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg in the UK will need to register as an operator.  It also has links to drone safety apps like Drone Assist which is the new drone safety app from NATS, the UK’s main air traffic control provider, powered by Altitude Angel. It presents users with an interactive map of airspace used by commercial air traffic so that you can see areas to avoid or in which extreme caution should be exercised, as well as ground hazards that may pose safety, security or privacy risks when you’re out flying your drone.  Dronesafe.uk

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The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Flying Drones

Photo HobbyHelp

Ever wondered what it was like to fly a drone?   Have you seen other people doing it down at the beach or in the local park and thought, I'd like a go at that?

Well, if you have,  then you, like me will have loads of questions, for which you'll find many of the answers on a handy and informative drone beginner’s guide, written by Jenny over at Hobby Help.  This guide covers the fundamentals, from choosing which drone to buy, to figuring out relevant laws and regulations as well as other things like travelling with your drone and how to keep it in the best possible condition.

Jenny says, "I bought my first drone several years ago with the goal of trying out aerial photography and videography. I’m lucky to live in an area with striking natural landscapes and many areas that permit drone flights, so I was curious to see how everything would look from above. Over time, I’ve also come to love the challenge of learning new skills and increasing my control as I manoeuvre my drone with pinpoint precision."

In the guide, Jenny talks us through what sort of drones to buy, how high-end to go with some key recommendations that will help take the headache out of choosing from such a large array of drones that are now widely available.

Of course, it is not just the drone that you'll need,  almost certainly you'll want to enhance the experience with some other bits and bobs. But, what accessories and extras should you plan to buy? Jenny has the answers and on the guide is a good list of handy things you might need or want - such as propeller guards, lens filters, memory cards and so on.

There are also sections on drone laws, flying responsibly as well as advice on overcoming some of the more common pitfalls and challenges of buying, flying and owning a drone. Visit The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Flying Drones on the link below.

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Flying Drones

Another source of information and advice is the CAA's Drone Safe site which has details of airfield restrictions, rules, regulations as well as being the place where anyone responsible for a drone or unmanned aircraft (including model aircraft) weighing between 250g and 20kg in the UK will need to register as an operator.  It also has links to drone safety apps like Drone Assist which is the new drone safety app from NATS, the UK’s main air traffic control provider, powered by Altitude Angel. It presents users with an interactive map of airspace used by commercial air traffic so that you can see areas to avoid or in which extreme caution should be exercised, as well as ground hazards that may pose safety, security or privacy risks when you’re out flying your drone.  Dronesafe.uk

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BlueBird Aero Systems gets order for 150+ Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAS

BlueBird's advanced and innovative WanderB-VTOL and ThunderB-VTOL chosen as end user's new tactical UAS. The contract, which is the largest ever sale of VTOL UAS, is worth tens of millions of euros

                                         BlueBird Aero Systems, a leading global developer and provider of superior micro, mini and small tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), has received an order worth tens of millions of euros from a European customer for the delivery of more than 150 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS of various categories.

The WanderB-VTOL Mini UAV and ThunderB-VTOL Tactical UAV will be operated by infantry soldiers, armored units, artillery corps and special forces. The contract marks the largest-ever sale of tactical VTOL UAS.

New powers for the UK police to enforce drone laws

Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill, giving greater police powers to prevent misuse, has second reading.

police will have the power to land, inspect and seize an unmanned aircraft thanks to new legislation
new stop and search powers around airports and prisons will help tackle illegal drone use, and those breaking the law could face on the spot fines
drone users will still be able to obtain permission to fly drones for purposes such as photography and surveying

The government has acted to give police forces across the country new powers to tackle the misuse of unmanned aircraft, including drones, as the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill has its second reading in Parliament today (27 January 2020).

The legislation will give the police new powers to land, inspect and seize drones if an offence has been committed and a warrant is secured.

DJI Is Reviewing FAA Proposal To Identify Drones In American Skies

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, is reviewing proposed rule from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to remotely identify drones in American skies. The FAA proposal outlines its own approach to identify airborne drones, which is a major step toward integrating drones into everyday life for business, government, education, photography and fun.

The FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which will be made available at this link and in the official Federal Register, proposes to require substantially all civilian drones to include remote identification technologies. Similar to the function of a car license plate, a Remote ID mechanism would help authorities identify and monitor airborne drones and their pilots, and provide information for further investigation if necessary. DJI is carefully reviewing the FAA’s proposed rule and encourages all its customers and partners in the drone industry to do the same, in preparation for the submission of written comments to the FAA early next year.