Drone Certifications, Combat Tech & BVLOS | September 9, 2024

In this week's episode of Weekly Wings, hosts Paul Rossi, Samuel Stansberry, and Terry Neff cover a range of cutting-edge drone innovations and industry updates. The episode starts with a recap of Paul’s experience at the Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, including highlights from live flight demonstrations - https://dronelife.com/2024/09/03/live-flight-demonstrations-from-the-field-at-commercial-uav-expo/

Percepto's industrial inspection drones received FAA type certification, marking a significant step for the industry. The team highlights the growing importance of type certifications, which enhance safety and reliability for large-scale drone operations, especially in energy and infrastructure sectors - https://dronelife.com/2024/09/05/percepto-secures-faa-type-certificate-enhancing-safety-and-reliability-in-drone-operations/

The episode also dives into the partnership between Baldwin and Fruity Chutes, which is driving the development of parachute systems for drones, crucial for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. These systems aim to standardize safety measures for flights over people and critical areas, ensuring that drone operations remain compliant with evolving regulations - https://dronelife.com/2024/08/28/baldwin-and-fruity-chutes-collaborate-on-enhanced-drone-safety-solution/

In a fascinating yet concerning military application, the hosts discuss the Bullfrog Counter UAS system—an autonomous, machine-gun-equipped solution designed to neutralize hostile drones. This system represents the increasing focus on drone countermeasures in modern warfare, further emphasized by the discussion of a Ukrainian "dragon drone" dropping molten thermite on Russian positions - https://dronelife.com/2024/09/02/allen-control-systems-demonstrates-autonomous-drone-targeting-and-destruction-with-bullfrog-counter-drone-system-at-department-of-defense-event/ and https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-war-drone-russia-molten-thermite-video-1947605

On a lighter note, the Detroit Lions’ upcoming drone light show in celebration of the NFL season opener is featured, reflecting the growing popularity of drone shows in entertainment. The conversation then turns serious as the hosts address an incident where a drone interfered with a life-saving helicopter mission in Oregon, highlighting the need for responsible drone operation in emergency situations - https://www.kezi.com/news/drone-keeps-life-flight-helicopter-from-assisting-in-deadly-rollover-crash-on-i-5/article_d683f13a-6b31-11ef-907a-ef41e211a294.html

The episode wraps up with a look at North Dakota’s pioneering use of a state-wide detect-and-avoid (DAA) network to support BVLOS operations, allowing drone services to conduct long-distance flights for infrastructure and agriculture - https://dronelife.com/2024/09/02/isights-north-dakota-bvlos-approval-will-allow-company-to-expand-operations-how-it-works/

Finally, the hosts explore the use of weather drones for cloud seeding and the ongoing discussions in Congress regarding the Countering CCP Drones Act, which could impact future drone operations involving Chinese-made technology - https://amt.copernicus.org/articles/17/601/2024/#bib1.bibx50 and https://www.forbes.com/sites/johannacostigan/2024/09/05/congress-wants-to-cut-off-china-made-drones-even-though-they-save-lives/

Tune in to hear all this and more, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies shaping the world of drones.