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FAA releases TRUST – yet another training and testing requirement to fly drones legally

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), which is a free online training programme that recreational drone users are required to take and pass before being allowed to fly their drone. Interestingly, even if you have your Part 107 certification for commercial use, you still need to do this, too.

And don’t think you can easily get away without it (not for long, anyway), as you’re legally obligated to present proof of having taken it if asked by the FAA or law enforcement when flying recreationally. And it appears to apply to all drones, even those under the 250g minimum limit.

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The FAA’s new drone rules start coming into effect from April 21st

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The FAA has announced dates for when their new tightened drone regulations (revised from an initial proposal in December 2019) will start to take effect. Not all of the rules are coming in at once, however, taking a staggered approach that sees completion in September 2023 – shorter than originally planned, but still gives pilots and manufacturers plenty of time to comply.

Coming in on April 21st are the Remote ID and Operations Over People rules. The Remote ID system requires identification for drones in flight as well as the location of their control stations or takeoff point. And the Operations Over People rule applies to those flying under Part 107 certificates.

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FAA removes always-on Internet from Remote ID requirements when flying drones

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The FAA released its ruling on Monday, December 28th, on Remote Identification (Remote ID) for drones and also a final rule on flights at night and over people. Their proposal was originally published in December 2019 and it appears to have gone through some changes, including removing the requirement that all drones essentially be connected to the Internet whenever they’re in the air.

While it is a long and complex document, an Executive Summary of the Final Rule provided by the FAA does break down the basics of how the system will work and the requirements for drone pilots throughout the USA.

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DJI invites users to “embrace” new drone regulations in Europe, effective from 31 December

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The new year brings us new drone regulations across Europe. From 31 December 2020, they are going to be effective across all EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and the UK. DJI has issued a statement regarding the new rules and invited all users to “embrace them.”

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DJI agrees with need for Remote ID, but not how the FAA wants to implement it

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With drones now well and truly here to stay, some close calls, some too close and too many major disruptions, drones regulation is big on the minds of lawmakers around the world. While more laws generally won’t stop those who purposefully intend to break them, authorities are attempting to do something about holding them accountable.

The idea of “Remote ID” is that drones would essentially have a digital license plate. It’s a popular concept, allowing for more freedoms for legitimate users and make it easier to find those who break the rules. The FAA has introduced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on how this could be implemented, although DJI is not happy about it.

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This is why you shouldn’t buy a drone

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Drones have become the hit “toy” over the last few years. Sure, they’re an expensive, grown-up toy, but for most of us, they’re still a toy nonetheless. And there is so much choice out there now. Chances are if you’re reading this, then either you own a drone or you know somebody who does and you’re thinking about getting your own. And who could blame you? They’re pretty amazing.

But have you ever thought that maybe you shouldn’t? Tony Northrup doesn’t think you should get one and in this video, he explains why. He highlights a lot of things people just don’t think about when it comes to deciding whether or not they should get a drone. And, refreshingly, it’s actually a pretty sound and logical argument for the most part.

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FAA restricts drone operations over seven nuclear facilities

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U.S. national security and law enforcement agencies have expressed concerns about unauthorized drone use over DOE (Department of Energy) facilities. To address these concerns, FAA has announced that they are restricting drone flights above seven nuclear facilities in the U.S.

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FAA restricts drones over Statue of Liberty and nine other major landmarks

FAA has announced that they are restricting drone flights over 10 major landmarks in the U.S. As stated, they are concerned about unauthorized drone operations over these landmarks, so they are imposing restrictions. From October 5, 2017, drone operators will not be able to fly their aircraft over 10 Department of the Interior (DOI) sites. The Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and Hoover Dam are some of the landmarks where the drone use will be prohibited from now on.

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Town tries to limit drone pilots. Pilot draws FAA regulations card and wins a lawsuit – could have US-wide implications

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The FAA has relaxed his drone regulations a little in the USA. People no longer have to register them, and guidelines for hobbyists and professionals are quite clear. When Newton Massachusetts attempted take things further with local regulation, though, one resident fought back. Dr Michael Singer, a professor at Harvard, claimed the proposed ordinance was preempted by federal law and violated his rights.

His case won. The court ruled that it was indeed in violation of his rights. sUAS News went live on Google hangouts today with Dr Singer, along with Loretta Alkalay and attorney Jonathan Rupprecht. It’s a very interesting discussion going over what happened and the potential implications for the rest of the USA.

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Dear drone pilots, some tips from a private pilot

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I hold a private pilot certificate, as well as a remote pilot certificate; I am also a photographer. I just wanted to share with you some advice from a budding pilot who comes from the much larger world of flying that is general aviation. I hope this helps you understand basic components of what us normal pilots deal with, while also helping you understand how we operate and how to avoid us. Understanding is critical to safety in many instances.

This is not intended to be a know all be all to flying drones in the States. Most of this information is supplemental, and, again, is intended to help you understand how airspace works, and to help you find what you are looking for. As with anything else, do your own research.

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