Insitu creates commercial business unit, opens Mississippi facility

Boeing’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and software technology subsidiary Insitu has formed a new commercial business unit to leverage its defense experience for the unmanned commercial aerial data-collection market. Products and services include: air vehicles; Inexa Control UAS operation software; TacitView and Catalina software suites for the collection, processing, and distribution of multi-sensor data; manned or unmanned aircraft payloads; and access to aerial data collection experts and aviation professionals.

“Energy, firefighting, and railway monitoring industries are looking to us as a trusted advisor,” says Insitu President and CEO Ryan M. Hartman. “Insitu brings both the technology to assist companies with their information collection and processing needs and the experience gained through more than 20 years as a professional aviation company.”

Aerial data provider PrecisionHawk and Insitu have formed a strategic alliance to develop UAS solutions to help commercial enterprises achieve safe unmanned flight for extended and beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.

The U.S.-based alliance intends to provide business intelligence support for commercial operations, including asset protection, property preservation, safety enhancement, and environmental monitoring.

Insitu officials also announced the opening of a new facility in support of its commercial UAS operations at Mississippi State University (MSU) in Starkville, Mississippi. MSU leads the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 22-member Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence (ASSURE) coalition, and recently became an FAA Center of Excellence.

Bingen, Washington-based Insitu’s new facility will support engineering, software development, and customer-support services, and will tap into MSU’s talent pool for its internship program. Insitu also will provide access to its training program, which is based on rigorous FAA and military testing standards, and participate in curriculum development, steering committees, and academic mentorship. The 23-person office is located at the Ralph E. Powe Center for Innovative Technology within MSU’s Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park. www.msstate.edu; www.insitu.com; www.precisionhawk.com

39hp UAV gas turbine engine in development

UAV Turbines Inc. (UAVT), which is developing next-generation gas turbine technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), plans to deliver the first pre-production units of its UTP50R 39hp recuperated engine by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

Fred Frigerio, senior vice president, says, “A year ago we announced that UAVT would build a number of UTP50R turbine engines for integration with airframes from major producers of UAVs. We’re pleased that the production of a number of identical engines is proceeding according to plan.”

UAVT has prototyped engines ranging from 5hp to 150hp for numerous applications, but the company’s emphasis has been on high-reliability engines with features important for Group 3 and Group 4 UAVs.

All engines in the UAVT family can use JP-8 fuel instead of avgas. www.uavturbines.com

UAV approved for nighttime commercial operation

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted approval for the first nighttime commercial drone operation in the U.S. to SkyBEAM unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance.

The UAV uses high-definition video and thermographic (infrared) cameras to locate where buildings may have energy leaks, rooftop damage, deteriorating façades, safety issues, and other potential problems. Traditional infrared scans require technicians to traverse rooftops at night, while façade inspections dictate working from scaffolding or cranes.

A two-person crew, including a licensed pilot, operates the UAV from on the ground. SkyBEAM can fly vertically up to 400ft and maintain its flight path in winds of up to 25mph and gusts reaching 50mph.

Toronto-based Industrial SkyWorks (ISW) developed SkyBEAM in partnership with Tremco Roofing. www.industrialskyworks.com;  www.tremcoroofing.com

FAA approves 5,000 Section 333 exemption petition grants

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airspace Rules Division had approved 5,076 Section 333 petition grants to legally operate an unmanned aerial system (UAS) commercially as of April 20, 2016, with another 7,000 petitions awaiting approval. Approximately 50 exemptions had been approved by April 20, 2015. Nevertheless, there has been a recent slowdown as individuals, businesses, non-profits, and governmental agencies anticipate regulatory changes.

Jason Christenson, president UAS consulting company Gowdy Brothers Aerospace LLC, says the number of Section 333 petition filings have dropped by 20% to 30% in recent months, in part, from anticipation of the small rule Part 107 due for release in June 2016.

Among the proposed rules in Part 107, the FAA may consider relaxing the current mandate on commercial UAS users holding at a minimum a Sports Pilot’s certification.

“When the pilot requirement is reduced to a knowledge test of some kind, the FAA will be immediately inundated with thousands of applicants who do not currently hold a pilot’s certification but wish to operate for commercial purposes,” Christenson says. “The requirements for application may immediately congest already strained FAA resources.”

The small rule is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the proposed rules are delayed, the FAA will continue to operate under the Section 333 process. www.gowdybrothers.com

Alta Devices achieves 31.6% solar energy efficiency

With its most recent solar efficiency record of 31.6%, measured and certified by the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Alta Devices’ technology offers the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market increased power-to-weight ratio. As an example, on a typical high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAV aircraft, Alta’s solar material requires less than half of the surface area and weighs one-fourth as much while providing the same amount of power as competing thin film technologies.

Alta achieved the record efficiency with dual junction technology that builds on the basic gallium arsenide (GaAs) material using a second junction (layer) with indium gallium phosphide (InGaP). Because InGaP uses high-energy photons more efficiently, the new dual-junction cell generates more electricity from the same amount of light than a single-junction device. www.altadevices.com

FAA creates UAS advisory committee, eases student restrictions

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is establishing a broad-based advisory committee to provide advice on key unmanned aircraft integration issues. The advisory committee will be led by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich.

The committee will include UAS stakeholders in industry, government, research, academia, retail, and technology. Committee members will work with the FAA to identify and propose actions on how best to efficiently and safely integrate UAS into the National Airspace System.

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta also announced plans to make it easier for students to fly unmanned aircraft as part of their coursework. By allowing students to operate UAS for educational and research purposes, schools and students will no longer need a Section 333 exemption or other authorization to fly provided they follow the rules for model aircraft. Faculty will be able to use UAS in connection with helping their students with their courses. www.faa.gov