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The latest drone news and information all in one email or to view as a webpage click here 

 

The final rules requiring remote identification of drones and allowing some flights over people, over moving vehicles, and at night under certain conditions go into effect on April 21, 2021. That means that you can fly your drone over people/moving vehicles if your drone meets certain requirements. Additionally, you can now fly at night after you complete online training from the FAA. See details below. 

The final rule updates the initial Remote Pilot knowledge test to include an operation at night knowledge area. Additionally, the final rule replaces the requirement to complete an in-person recurrent test every 24 calendar months. The updated requirement is for remote pilots to complete online recurrent training which will include an operation at night knowledge area. The online recurrent training will be offered free of charge to remote pilots beginning April 6, 2021.

There are multiple training options, depending on your current status:

• If you do not hold a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate you must:

  • Take the UAS Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test

  • Knowledge tests may be scheduled on the Airman Certificate Testing Service (ACTS) website and there is a fee associated

• Current Part 61 certificate holders:

  • Take the Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Initial (ALC-451) online course

  • Available on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website for no cost

• Part 107 remote pilots who are also certificated and current under Part 61:

  • Take the Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Recurrent (ALC -515) online course

  • Available on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website for no cost

• All individuals who hold a Part 107 remote pilot certificate (regardless of currency):

  • Take the Part 107 Small UAS Recurrent Non-Part 61 Pilots (ALC-677) online course

Available on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website for no cost

 

If you are a drone pilot, you should keep track of Michael Jones’ lawsuit in North Carolina challenging that drone mapping is surveying without a license. 

Here are the basics. The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors sent Jones a cease-and-desist letter in summer 2019, accusing him of violating state laws against the unlicensed practice of land surveying. Jones, who does not offer, or claim to offer surveying services, runs his own business where takes aerial images and stitches them together into aerial maps for clients. Since 2018, the North Carolina Board of examiners for Engineers and Surveyors have issued roughly a half-dozen cease-and-desist letters to drone operators like Jones.

The Institute for Justice, which represents Jones in the case, recently wrote an Op-Ed piece where they point out the double standard of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors in not sending cease-and-desist letters to Silicon Valley tech giants that do the same thing. They also point out that the collection of images and data is free speech and should be protected. Read more here.