GA-ASI takes flyer with Dayton office

Makes sense to have boots on the ground Adjacent to Wright Patterson Air force Base and fronting I-675. The Air Force is one of GA-ASI's prime customers. Much more convenient than flying in to Dayton or connecting through Cincinnatti or Columbus.


General Atomics setting up new office in Dayton - Dayton Business Journal

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. says it will open an office in the Mission Point Office Park, 2601 Mission Point Blvd. in Beavercreek. Officials didn’t immediately respond to queries about the size of the new office or how many it will employ.

Drones, or unmanned aerial systems, have been a major target for new investment in Dayton, as the industry is expected to expand to a multibillion-dollar endeavor employing thousands in the next decade. Local leaders and federal funding have all turned to supporting more companies in the drone business coming to Dayton.

General Atomics works on technology related to UAS such as sensors, radars, control stations, lasers, antennae and and training. It has an extensive history working with military aircraft such as the MQ-1 Predator, the MQ-9 Reaper, and other models currently in development with the U.S. Air Force.

US Navy decommissions FFG-49 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

US Navy decommissions Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessel - Naval Technology



USS Robert G. Bradley scheduled for decommission



Frigate Photo Index FFG-49 USS ROBERT G. BRADLEY

Navy decommissions another OHP frigate, slimming down its blue water capability. The LCS is supposed to replace them. This one will probably show up in someone elses Navy.

USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) was one of the seven ubiquitous OHP class, which are being modernised and sold off to other navies such as Poland in 2014 fiscal year. See decommissioning schedule. The US Navy has 29 Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigates remaining in service of the 50 built for the US Navy during the 1970s and 1980s. Relatively inexpensive and long lived hulls, the frigates have a full load displacement of 4,100t. The maximum speed is 30kt, limited by the dual gas turbine power plant and single screw, and the range at an economical speed is 4,500nm. It has NTDS command and control with moderate capabilities for all phases of naval warfare ASW, AAW, and ASuW, hence could be used as a sort of utility infielder for almost any mission. Crew included 15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-2 detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers.

The US Navy seems to be moving towards a small fleet of high cost units with reduced manning. Numbers do count in sea control, force projection to a contested littoral, and logistics. The oceans haven't shrunk, and each ship has a limited reach to cover an area with its range, speed of movement, sensors and weapons. The OHP class provided sea control, which the LCS will not. see:
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/presidential-campaign/265143-naval-supremacy-requires-a-fleet-of-sufficient-capability-and-size

Radar Systems: Requirements, Equations, and Design

Radar Systems: Requirements, Equations, and Design

Co-sponsored by San Diego Chapter of Aerospace Electronic Systems Society

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This talk will introduce radar systems, including an overview of the forms of radar equation used in various applications such as surveillance, tracking, and imaging. Performance Requirements definition and budgeting to component subsystems will be developed with examples in radar system design including propagation issues. Example radar systems and applications including Air Traffic Control, Air Defense, Airborne MTI, GMTI, and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) will be discussed.

Location: Building: Highlands Corporate Center - Keller Williams Room Number: 130 12780 High Bluff Drive (near Del Mar Heights Rd) San Diego,  California United States 92130
Date: 09-April-2014 Time: 06:00PM to 08:00PM (2.00 hours) All times are: US/Pacific
Email meeting contact... Kathleen A. Kramer, Chair, IEEE AESS San Diego Chapter (This meeting is free to all IEEE members, and $5 for non-members.)

SUMATRA – millimeter wave SAR for UAV-based surveillance - Fraunhofer FHR

SUMATRA – millimeter wave SAR for UAV-based surveillance - Fraunhofer FHR

94-GHz front end of the SUMATRA-UAV-SAR

Unmanned, air-based surveillance with millimeter wave SAR sensors (Synthetic Aperture Radar) combined with real-time analysis of the measured data on the ground makes an important contribution to multi-sensor data acquisition in many military and civilian applications. The possibility of real-time application is of central importance in the area of surveillance as this allows quick decisions to be made on the basis of the measured data.

SARape: Miniaturised SAR for UAVS - Fraunhofer FHR

New Signal Processing Methods for SAR Satellites - Fraunhofer FHR

Joint STARS Re-capitalization effort begins

Initial phase of Joint STARS effort begins

The current system is comprised of a radar and computer systems, which display real-time battlefield information, and a 24-foot long antenna that is capable of detecting targets from long distances. Joint STARS, which first flew during Desert Storm in 1991 and has been a consistently used military asset for nearly two decades, operates on refurbished commercial 707 airframes.  

But, the aging fleet must adapt to the times.

"The next generation JSTARS will be a more affordable solution and will increase our operational capability," said Lt. Col. Michael Harm, JSTARS Recapitalization program manager. "More advanced communication tools are needed for success in today's evolving battlefield." 

Lt. Col. Michael D. Harm was previously program manager of the Multi-Platform Radar Tech Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) in July of 2012.

USAF reveals plan to replace JSTARS with business jets by 2022 - 1/27/2014 - Flight Global 
The US Air Force has taken the first step in a newly revealed, eight-year process to develop and field a business jet-sized replacement for the Northrop Grumman E-8C joint surveillance target attack radar system (JSTARS), although the project still has no approved funding.

The JSTARS Recapitalisation (Recap) programme seeks to achieve an initial operational capability in 2022 with a “more efficient airframe” in the business jet class. It will be acquired using separate contracts for developing the aircraft, the airborne sensor, battle management command and control (BMC2) system and a communications subsystem.

USAF Eyes T-X, New JStars Projects 
The E-8C Joint Stars fleet is housed on aging Boeing 707 airframes, all of which were purchased as used platforms before being modified with mission systems in the 1990s and 2000s. So, their service life is hampered and maintenance cost is high. That, coupled with a desire from combatant commanders for more and better ground surveillance—tracking ground vehicles to individuals on foot—is behind the need. An analysis of alternatives conducted by the service has pointed to a solid business case for housing the next system on a business jet to access both its speed and low operating cost. And significant advances have been made in active, electronically scanned array radars to allow for multimode detection and tracking of many targets simultaneously.

The E-8Cs are housed on the oldest of the USAF's 707s, but it is likely that the service could embark on a larger recapitalization project to eventually put the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System air surveillance and RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence missions on the same business jet platform.

Jumped-up JSTARS: What Future USAF’s Ground Surveillance Planes? 

The 3rd area involves the planes’ radar and sensors. J-STARS operations have to contend with their AN/APY-7 radar’s limitations, which have been underscored by the challenges inherent in campaigns against stateless terrorists and counter-insurgency fights. 

• One is that the radar has to “break track” with a target, in order to collect an image.  

• Another is the radar’s resolution, which is adequate to find tanks and ground vehicles, but doesn’t reach the under 1 meter resolution of current technologies. 

It isn’t difficult to imagine that a J-STARS or Global Hawk would need to perform wide area scans, while focusing with higher resolution on one target of interest, and occasionally taking high-resolution synthetic aperture radar pictures for transmission to HQ or other platforms, all at the same time.The E-8C J-STARS can’t do that at the moment, but the architecture of AESA radar arrays is making this sort of thing possible on platforms like advanced fighters.

Understandably, the USAF wanted this capability for its reconnaissance aircraft. A new AESA radar called MP-RTIP was originally developed for the (canceled) E-10A JSTARS replacement, with a claimed 5x – 10x resolution improvement over the APY-7. A smaller version will now be mounted on Global Hawk Block 40 UAVs, and one obvious approach would be to equip E-8s with a full-size MP-RTIP or a similar radar.
The cost of that conversion has pushed the USAF away from that idea, while looking at other methods to improve the platform. The JSTARS Radar Modernization (JSRM) replaced 2 radar receivers with 1 modern receiver, improving resolution and tracking. 2011 tests added a keel beam accessory bay (KAB) behind the APY-7 radar, and installed a high-resolution MS-177 multispectral camera for sub 1-meter resolution and target identification. The KAB could accommodate other sensors instead, which would add flexibility to the platform. A February 2013 test even added MP-RTIP, after a fashion. It showed that E-8s could stream MP-RTIP radar data from a RQ-4B Block 40 UAV for analysis on board, then use the E-8′s superior communications systems to distribute the results.

A Basic Mistake That Trashed a JSTARS | Defense Tech 
 

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Report: UAVs Important Military Tools | UK House Committee

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Report: UAVs Important Military Tools | Aero-News Network

Sun, Mar 30, 2014

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Report: UAVs Important Military Tools

U.K. Defense Select Committee Report Published Wednesday

The rapid development of remotely piloted air systems by the UK armed forces over the past decade has contributed greatly to the effectiveness of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, According to a report published Wednesday by the U.K. Defense Select Committee, and that the provision of  enhanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that these air systems provide to troops on the ground has undoubtedly saved lives and prevented casualties.


Remotely piloted aircraft are key military capability for future - News from Parliament - UK Parliament

MPs call for more transparency over UK's use of drones | World news | The Guardian

Lockheed Martin Partners with Polish Warsaw Poly for UAV Studies

Unmanned Aircraft Subject Of Warsaw Polytechnic & Lockheed Martin Partnership | Aero-News Network

Lockheed Martin and Politechnika Warszawska (Warsaw Polytechnic) will jointly conduct an advanced applied research program in the field of integration between manned and unmanned airborne platform systems. The program adds to Lockheed Martin's already strong industrial and academic partnerships in Poland to motivate young Polish engineers to address tomorrow's defense and industrial needs.

CACI awarded $27M CPFF contract from Army INSCOM Ft Belvoir

Defense.gov Contracts for Monday, March 24, 2014

CACI Inc. – Federal, Chantilly, Va., is being awarded a $27,114,681  cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for logistics and engineering services performed at contingency locations. Work is expected to be completed in  December 2014.  A combination of fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance
funds and fiscal 2014 procurement funds in the amount of $5,446,985 are  being obligated on this award. One bid was solicited, with one bid  received. The Army Intelligence and Security Command, Fort Belvoir, Va.,
is the contracting activity (W911W4-14-C-0006).

The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) is a direct reporting unit that conducts intelligence, security, and information operations for U.S. Army commanders and national decision makers. INSCOM is an organization within both the United States Army and the National Security Agency, the United States's unified signals intelligence organization. Within the NSA, INSCOM and its counterparts in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force are known as Central Security Service. INSCOM is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-80 tested by USMC at Yuma

News

G/ATOR is a highly mobile system intended to fully support the Marine Corps' expeditionary warfare requirements. The new radar system will provide the Marines with enhanced capabilities to detect, track, and provide target quality data to engage hostile aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned air vehicles, rockets, mortars, and artillery. G/ATOR will also provide robust air traffic control capabilities to enhance the safety of Marine Corps air operations.

More at http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabi...

The AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar (G/ATOR) system, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation for the U.S. Marine Corps, has successfully conducted developmental testing and supported two Weapons and Tactics Instruction (WTI) events at Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) Yuma over the past 10 months.

These events supported the operational assessment of the G/ATOR system for Milestone C.

During the assessment, Northrop Grumman's AN/TPS-80 provided excellent situational awareness by successfully detecting, tracking and identifying a wide range of aerial targets. The radar also demonstrated its ability to extract targets from heavy clutter backgrounds. The radar also exceeded its objective-level operational availability requirement.

Drones to deliver drugstore items in the Mission? - The Technology Chronicles

Drones to deliver drugstore items in the Mission? - The Technology Chronicles

A San Francisco company has leaped on the opportunity, gearing up to offer drone delivery of drugstore items in the Mission. QuiQui, pronounced Quicky, said on its website that it’s been working on its idea for two years, and was taken by surprise when the FAA lost its lawsuit. Its drones will fly below 500 feet, for a $1/delivery fee and will operate 24 hours a day — with orders arriving in less than 15 minutes, it said.

Information Warfare: The Iridium Hotspot

Information Warfare: The Iridium Hotspot

March 7, 2014: The U.S. Department of Defense has arranged for satellite telephone service provider Iridium to supply small (300 gr/10.3 ounce and the size of a small paperback) battery powered Iridium GO! devices that can connect to the Iridium satphone network and provide a local wifi hotspot. Up to five users with a wifi devices within about 30 meters (a hundred feet) of the Iridium GO! can have Internet access. That means smartphones or tablets can use texting, Skype to make phone calls or a browser for web search and limited downloading. All of this uses military encryption. 

The Iridium Go! devices will cost the Department of Defense $800 each and the Iridium service is taken care of by the contracts the Department of Defense has had with Iridium for over a decade. Currently the Department of Defense (which also provides other government agencies with satphone service) is Iridiums largest customer accounting for about 20 percent of revenues.

Admiral Locklear says Forget China - Climate Change Asia-Pacific’s Number One Threat

Oh, and by the way, we no longer have the ability to conduct amphibious operations.

“We have had a good return of our Marines back to the Asia-Pacific, particularly as the activities in the Middle East wind down in Afghanistan. … But the reality is, is that to get Marines around effectively, they require all types of lift. They require the big amphibious ships, but they also require connectors (meaning landing craft and other amphibious vehicles). The lift is the enabler that makes that happen, so we wouldn’t be able to [successfully carry out a contested amphibious assault without additional resources],” Adm. Locklear said, Stars and Stripes reported.

The admiral’s comments come only weeks after Capt. James Fannell, the chief of intelligence of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said that he believes China is training for war with Japan.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/25/pacific-commander-us-lacks-resources-conduct-succe/#ixzz2x7EIcmKb
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

PACOM Commander Sticks to Climate Change as Asia-Pacific’s Number One Threat - Blog

Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III, Pacific Command commander, raised eyebrows and invited some criticism when he said on Capitol Hill last year that climate change was the number one long-term threat in the Asia-Pacific.

When asked March 6 if that were still the case, Locklear said, “I haven’t changed my position.”

As a military leader, it is not his role to debate political issues, he said during a question and answer session at the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. “All I do is report what I see.”

“This is a pretty aggressive area of the world for natural disasters,” he said. Eighty percent of all the catastrophes in the world happen in the PACOM area of operations, which encompasses 36 nations and about half of the world’s surface.

Only 17 percent of PACOM’s region is land mass and six of every 10 people in the world live there, he added. And more of these populations are moving closer to shorelines in search of economic opportunity, he said.

“The implications for any climate change, or any change in the weather pattern or sea level change, are much more dramatic for the mass amount of population,” which are moving closer to the littorals, he said.

Samuel J. Locklear III - Bio - C-SPAN Video Library

Video of his testimony April 9, 2013
US Pacific Command Operations | Video | C-SPAN.org 

U.S. Pacific Command Operations

Admiral Samuel Locklear testified on U.S. Pacific Command programs and operations. Much of the hearing was focused on mounting tensions between North and South Korea. Admiral Locklear said American defenses could intercept a ballistic missile launched by North Korea and forces were prepared for limited military action by North Korea. Other topics included the U.S. military posture in Asia Pacific, China’s role with North Korea, and the impact of automatic defense cuts known as sequestration.

Samuel J. Locklear - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Locklear has called climate change (global warming) the biggest worry for the United States.^[3][4] On 9 April 2013, Jim Inhofe, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services asked Locklear to clarify his position of climate change as the principal national security threat. Locklear cited USAID government statistics on recent Indo-Asian natural disasters and the long range planning challenges of our security partners and allies in the region.^[5]

Real disaster statistics for Pacific

I believe disaster relief is a collateral duty of the Navy at most.

Disaster Statistics - Indonesia - Asia - Countries & Regions - PreventionWeb.net
Maybe he should worry about earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. I don't think those have been linked to climate change yet! See also, the Brookings report:

2011: NATURAL DISASTERS REVIEWED - Brookings ...

www.brookings.edu/.../natural-disaster.../03_nd_re...‎

Brookings Institution

we will review international humanitarian disaster funding ... average annual figure of 384 natural disasters from 2001-2010. ... United States had 19, India had eleven, Indonesia had eleven and Mexico had ten.161.

SPAWAR awards 4 IDIQ $35.3M Contracts, March 06, 2014

Defense.gov Contracts for Thursday, March 06, 2014


SPAWAR Pacific’s Training Development and Support Center awarded four contracts potentially estimated to total $35,265,817 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to the following firms:

• Science Applications International Corp., Mclean, Va.,
• Kratos Technology & Training Solutions Inc., San Diego, Calif.
• Salient Federal Solutions, Fairfax, Va.,
• Mantech Systems Engineering Corp., Fairfax, Va., 

    
Each awardee will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed March 4, 2017.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; other procurement, Navy and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  

Science Applications International Corp., Mclean, Va., was awarded a potentially estimated $35,265,817 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to support Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific’s Training Development and Support Center to provide training for a range of program offices.  This is one of four contracts awarded.  Each awardee will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed March 4, 2017.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; other procurement, Navy and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via full and open competition via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven proposals received and four selected for award.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0108). (Awarded March 5, 2014)

Kratos Technology & Training Solutions Inc., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a potentially estimated $35,211,430 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to support Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific’s Training Development and Support Center to provide training for a range of program offices.  This is one of four contracts awarded.  Each awardee will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed March 4, 2017.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; other procurement, Navy and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via full and open competition via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven proposals received and four selected for award.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0106). (Awarded March 5, 2014)

Salient Federal Solutions, Fairfax, Va., was awarded a potentially estimated $34,647,083 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to support Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific’s Training Development and Support Center to provide training for a range of program offices.  This is one of four contracts awarded.  Each awardee will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period.  Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed March 4, 2017.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; other procurement, Navy and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via full and open competition via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven proposals received and four selected for award.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0107). (Awarded March 5, 2014)

Mantech Systems Engineering Corp., Fairfax, Va., was awarded a potentially estimated $33,607,344 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee, multiple-award contract to support Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific’s Training Development and Support Center to provide training for a range of program offices.  This is one of four contracts awarded.  Each awardee will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period.   Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and work is expected to be completed March 4, 2017.  Fiscal 2014 operations and maintenance, Navy; other procurement, Navy and research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $50,000 will be obligated at the time of award, and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via full and open competition via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with seven proposals received and four selected for award.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N66001-14-D-0105). (Awarded March 5, 2014)

FAA moves fast to appeal court ruling on commercial use

FAA Appeals

FAA Appeals Commercial Drone Ruling, Cites Safety Concerns | TechCrunch

Hold the drone: FAA appeals court ruling on commercial use | Digital Trends


“The FAA is appealing the decision of an NTSB Administrative Law Judge to the full National Transportation Safety Board, which has the effect of staying the decision until the Board rules,” stated the FAA. “The agency is concerned that this decision could impact the safe operation
of the national airspace system and the safety of people and property on the ground.”

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/hold-drone-faa-appeals-court-ruling-commercial-use/#ixzz2vP6d8BVy

Follow us: @digitaltrends on Twitter | digitaltrendsftw on Facebook

NTSB Denies FAA's Right to Penalize UAS Pilot

Commercial Drone Pilots Cheer Judge Finding Against FAA - Bloomberg
Drone Pilot Beats FAA In Court | Aero-News Network
New Ruling Means Commercial Drones Are Finally Legal… Sort Of 

Remember Raphael "Trappy" Pirker? When last we wrote about this fellow, he was dealing with a recalcitrant FAA who had asserted that he had operated a drone illegally and was trying to stiff him for $10,000 smackers.

Well... he's had his day in court and for a change, the NTSB didn't see it the FAA's way -- As a result, Mr. Pirker is a much less poor man than he thought he'd about now (minus legal fees, of course).
Last October, the FAA fined this pilot of an R/C airplane, which it classified as a UAS, $10,000 for what the agency says was the reckless and careless operation of a Ritewing Zephyr powered glider aircraft in the vicinity of the University of Virginia (UVA), Charlottesville, Virginia.
The Order of Assessment (Docket No. 2012EA210009) charged that the 'pilot' operated the aircraft with a camera aboard that sent real-time video to the ground; that the flight was performed for compensation; and that he operated the aircraft at altitudes of approximately 10 feet to approximately 400 feet over the University of Virginia in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

Specifically, the FAA charged that the pilot:

• Operated the aircraft directly towards an individual standing on a UVA sidewalk causing the individual to take immediate evasive maneuvers so as to avoid being struck by your aircraft.
• Operated the aircraft through a UVA tunnel containing moving vehicles.
• Operated the aircraft under a crane.
• Operated the aircraft below tree top level over a tree lined walkway.
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 15 feet of a UVA statue,
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 50 feet of railway tracks.
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 50 feet of numerous individuals.
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 20 feet of a UVA active street containing numerous pedestrians and cars.
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 25 feet of numerous UVA buildings.
• Operated the aircraft on at least three occasions under an elevated pedestrian  walkway and above an active street.
• Operated the aircraft directly towards a two story UVA building below rooftop  level and made an abrupt climb in order to avoid hitting the building.
• Operated the aircraft within approximately 100 feet of an active heliport at UVA.

"Additionally, in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another, you operated the above-described aircraft at altitudes between 10 and 1500 feet AGL when you failed to take precautions to prevent collision hazards with other aircraft that may have been flying within the vicinity of your aircraft," the order stated.

However; in an order dated March 6th, 2014, NTSB Law Judge Patrick Geraghty (the same Judge who had to deal with Aero-Conman, David Riggs, last year), he ruled that:

1. Neither the Part 1, Section 1.1, or the 49 U.S.C. Section 40102(a)6) definitions of "aircraft" are applicable to, or include a model aircraft within their respective definition.
2. Model aircraft operation by Respondent was subject only to the FAA's requested voluntary compliance with the Safety Guidelines stated in AC 91-57,
3. As Policy Notices 05-01 and 08-01 were issued and intended for internal guidance for FAA personnel, they are not a jurisdictional basis for asserting Part 91 FAR enforcement authority on model aircraft operations.
4. Policy Notice 07-01 does not establish a jurisdictional basis for asserting Part 91, Section 91.13(a) enforcement on Respondent's model aircraft operation, as tho Notice is either (a) as it states, a Policy Notice/Statement and hence non-binding, or (b) an invalid attempt of legislative rulemaking, which fails for non-compliance with the requirement of 5 U.S.C Section 553, Rulemaking.
5. Specifically, that at the time of Respondent's model aircraft operation, as alleged herein, there was no enforceable FAA rule or FAR Regulation applicable to model aircraft or for classifying a model aircraft as a UAS.

Judge Geraghty then concluded, "Upon the Findings and conclusions reached, I hold that Respondent's Motion to Dismiss must be AFFlRMED, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

1. Respondent's Motion to Dismiss be, and hereby is: GRANTED.
2. Complainant's Order of Assessment be, and hereby is: VACATED AND SET ASIDE.
3. This proceeding be, and is: TERMINATED WITH PREJUDICE"

ANN has a copy of the Judge's ruling and is studying it now for more insight into the future of this issue... we'll keep you updated.

FMI: http://team-blacksheep.com/, www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov

EU and Rolls-Royce imagine a future of unmanned ships through MUNIN

BBC News - Rolls-Royce imagines a future of unmanned ships

Unmanned cargo ships could become a reality on our oceans within the decade, according to manufacturer Rolls-Royce. The firm has been showing off the designs for its concept crewless ships.

The EU is funding a 3.5m euro (£2.8m) project dubbed Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence (Munin) which aims to develop its own autonomous ship.


Experts remain divided over whether such vessels will become a reality due to technical, piratical, naval, practical maintenance, maritime union, political, and legal difficulties.

Would require amending the IMO SOLAS treaty, (particularly Chapter V - Safety of navigation) among many other international regulations.

IMO | International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
IMO, International Convention On Salvage, 1989

Rolls-Royce envisions crewless drone freight ships | Digital Trends

MUNIN

MUNIN | MUNIN – Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks
Project MUNIN – Maritime Unmanned Navigation through Intelligence in Networks – is a collaborative research project, co-funded by the European Commissions under its Seventh Framework Programme. MUNIN aims to develop and verify a concept for an autonomous ship, which is defined as a vessel primarily guided by automated on-board decision systems but controlled by a remote operator in a shore side control station.

Bulk carriers could be the first ships to operate in unmanned mode

The Motorship - Cutting manning levels to an absolute minimum

the MUNIN Project is forecasting considerable savings both in costs and in emissions with the operation of unmanned ships. The project is focusing on research into operation of bulk carriers at this stage, because this is the type of ship offering greatest potential benefits to accrue, and where there would be reduced risk in terms of public acceptability in terms of an accident thanks to lower risk of pollution.

Improved Navigation

The research into unmanned operation is focused on several areas. The onboard navigation requirements would demand a considerable advancement on current systems. Position fixing and route following systems are well advanced with current ECDIS systems coupled to autopilots but duplication and back up systems would be necessary. Back up satellite systems in addition to GPS are coming on stream so reliable position fixing should not pose problems, and it is suggested that when operating in constricted waters there would be a human intervention with a transit crew put on board.

 Collision Avoidance

One of the main challenges will be in the detection of other vessels and taking avoiding action as required by the Collision Regs. Current radar systems have impressive detection capability but this can deteriorate in rough sea conditions. There are other detection systems available, such as low light TV and infrared systems. It would appear that the solution might lie in combining the various detection systems into one harmonious whole to ensure that even small craft can be detected in adverse conditions.

Weather Routing and Rough Seas

Weather routing and safe operation in rough sea conditions throws up another challenge and this could entail introducing stress gauges and other measurements into the requirements. Weather routing is a well established science but relating this to the actual influence of the weather on board the ship without a human assessment may be a challenge.

Current ship operations entail the human operation of items such as the main engine and the auxiliaries as and when required. Advanced control systems will be required for the unmanned ship to allow the speed to be varied according to conditions and machinery such as the generators, steering engine and the windlass to be operated by remote control. This will require advanced monitoring and control systems able to detect impending faults and to find solutions.

Related Projects

Links | MUNIN

FAA Seeks To Clear The Air About UAVs

FAA Seeks To Clear The Air About UAVs | Aero-News Network

Says Many Misconceptions Surround The Agency's Current Regulations

The FAA says there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about unmanned aircraft system (UAS) regulations, and has released a fact sheet that outlines its rules that currently govern the use of the aircraft. Myths:

1. The FAA doesn't control airspace below 400 feet - Fact—The FAA is responsible for the safety of U.S. airspace from the ground up.
2. Commercial UAS flights are OK if I'm over private property and stay below 400 feet. Fact— A commercial flight requires a certified aircraft, a licensed pilot and operating approval.   To date, only one operation has met these criteria, using Insitu's ScanEagle, and authorization was limited to the Arctic.
3. Commercial UAS operations are a “gray area” in FAA regulations. - Fact - There are no shades of gray in FAA regulations. 
4. There are too many commercial UAS operations for the FAA to stop. - Fact — The FAA has to prioritize its safety responsibilities, but the agency is monitoring UAS operations closely. 
5. Commercial UAS operations will be OK after September 30, 2015. Fact—In the 2012 FAA reauthorization legislation, Congress told the FAA to come up with a plan for “safe integration” of UAS by September 30, 2015. Safe integration will be incremental. 
6. The FAA is lagging behind other countries in approving commercial drones. Fact – This comparison is flawed. We want to strike the right balance of requirements for UAS to help foster growth in an emerging industry with a wide range of potential uses, but also keep all airspace users and people on the ground safe. 
7. The FAA predicts as many as 30,000 drones by 2030. Fact—That figure was an estimate in the FAA’s 2011 Aerospace Forecast. The FAA currently estimates as many as 7,500 small commercial UAS may be in use by 2018, assuming the necessary regulations are in place. 

FMI: www.faa.gov
Fact Sheet – Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)