Electrek reports, “All-electric aircraft developer Archer has entered a key development phase ahead of full-fledged flight certification and commercial operations. Last week, Archer completed a piloted flight in its flagship Midnight aircraft, demonstrating a conventional takeoff and landing instead of vertical (it can do both). Check out the entire flight video.”
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AirInsight reports, “SpiceJet announced plans to launch seaplane operations in 2025, connecting some of India’s most remote and picturesque locations. This will be the Delhi-based low-cost airline’s third attempt to venture into seaplane operations.”
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Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “The FAA policy, for exercising discretion in determining whether to take enforcement action for drone operators found in breach of the Remote ID Rule, ended on March 16, 2024.” Drone operators in the US “now face fines and suspension or revocation of their drone pilot certificate” if it is determined they are not in compliance with the FAA’s Remote ID Rule.
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ExecutiveGov reports that the Federal Aviation Administration is asking for feedback from UAS industry members “on requests by four companies to fly uncrewed aerial vehicles beyond visual line-of-sight.” Aerial data acquisition services provider Phoenix Air Unmanned, UAS technology developer uAvionix and autonomous delivery companies UPS Flight Forward and Zipline “have sought permission to conduct BVLOS drone operations at or below 400 feet, the FAA said Tuesday.”
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Reuters reports that on Tuesday, Virgin Orbit “revealed that it was closing for good after a $36.4 million asset sale, including an agreement to sell the bulk of its Long Beach, California, headquarters to small-launch firm Rocket Lab USA Inc.” Rocket Lab won Virgin Orbit’s “primary manufacturing site for $16 million during an auction held on Monday, according to a court filing disclosing the results of a weeks-long Chapter 11 bid process. The purchase agreement includes machinery and equipment that had been used to manufacture Virgin Orbit’s flagship LauncherOne rockets, which air-launched from the belly of a modified Boeing 747. It is subject to the bankruptcy court’s approval during a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.”
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BNN Bloomberg (CAN) reports that Virgin Orbit “has paused operations and furloughed staff while it attempts to secure more funding.” The changes “were announced at an all-hands meeting with employees on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter.” A company spokesperson said in a statement, “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective March 16, 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks.”
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Space News reports that the US Space Force is to “take over control of the Wideband Global Satcom and Defense Satellite Communications System constellations of military satellites” from the US Army on Monday. The Army “shifted about $78 million to the Space Force’s 2022 budget to cover the cost of operating five satellite operations centers and four regional support centers. About 500 military and civilian personnel will transition from the Army to the Space Force’s Delta 8 unit based at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado.”
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The AP reports that although for years it has been legal to fly civilian UAVs only within the pilot’s line of sight, some UAV operators “have recently gotten permission to soar out of their pilots’ sight” amid a broader relaxation of UAV regulations in the US elsewhere. The expectation “of small drones with little human oversight delivering packages, assessing home insurance claims or buzzing around on nighttime security patrols” has driven “the FAA’s work this year to craft new safety guidelines meant to further integrate drones into the national airspace.” Although the FAA “said it is still reviewing how it will roll out routine operations enabling some drones to fly beyond visual line of sight,” the agency nevertheless “has signaled that the permissions will be reserved for commercial applications, not hobbyists.” In early July, the FAA approved 230 waivers allowing permission to fly UAVs “beyond visual line of sight.” One waiver went to “Dominion Energy for inspecting its network of power plants and transmission lines.” Dominion Energy Chief Security Officer Adam Lee said, “This is the first step of what everybody’s expecting with drones.” The article adds, “Previously, ‘you would have to erect scaffolding or have people go in with a bucket truck,’ said Nate Robie, who directs the drone program at Dominion [Energy]. ‘Now you can go in on a 20-minute flight.’”
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