August 7, 2018, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 2, ISSUE 16	August 7, 2018

Top Stories

Dollars for drone pilots

AOPA's drone-flying members will have a leg up on the competition and new discounts to look forward to thanks to a new partnership with PrecisionHawk. Read more >

Drones attack Venezuelan president

Six people were detained following an alleged assassination attempt on Venezuela's president by assailants flying two drones reportedly carrying explosives. Read more >

Training and Safety

PAPA partners with AOPA

The Professional Aerial Photographers Association is sponsoring the first-ever drone workshop during an AOPA Fly-In on Sept. 14 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. PAPA, with help from AOPA and DJI, will offer the workshop, and the $99 fee covers this, lunch, and another workshop of your choice. Register now >

King Schools launches new Part 107 courses

A new online course for recurrent Part 107 training will soon be available from King Schools, the aviation training company announced July 26. Read more >

NPPA offers drone journalism workshops

The National Press Photographers Association has partnered with universities in Nebraska and Georgia to offer drone workshops for journalists. Read more >

First remote pilot certificates expire soon

The first FAA remote pilot certificates will expire this month. Manned aircraft pilots with a current flight review can renew after completing a free online course, while other remote pilots must schedule a recurrent test for a two-year renewal. Read more >

Gear

Catalog foils surprise

DJI postponed a July announcement but an alert Twitter user spotted the Mavic 2 Pro in a printed catalog. Read more >

Insects inspire durable drone

Researchers at the Swiss École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne created a drone that bends without breaking. Read more >

Lifestyle

Slideshow: EAA AirVenture drone show

The July 26 night airshow at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, marked the first time drones had joined the popular after-dark attraction. Watch the slideshow >

Drones create art

The Art Photo Travel Association honors photographers from around the world who created amazing images with unmanned aircraft. Read more and watch a video >

Teen creates drone camps

Teen pilot Matteo Almaguer founded camps to help fellow students learn science, technology, engineering, and math with unmanned aircraft. Read more >

Public Safety

Menlo Park firefighters film Carr Fire

Members of California's Menlo Park Fire District put their drone expertise to work helping fight a blaze that has destroyed more than 1,000 homes. Read more and watch a video >

Emergency responders embrace drones

North Carolina first responders are among the nation's most enthusiastic drone adopters. Read more >

Police Foundation launches drone center

The Police Foundation is supporting and informing drone adoption. Read more >

Near-midair put firefighters at risk

A helicopter carrying three firefighters battling a wildfire reported a near-miss with a drone, and a suspect vehicle was photographed fleeing the scene. Read more >

Multi-agency UAS response training

Wake Forest Fire Department chief pilot Steve Rhode will present a class (free to North Carolina agencies, with a fee charged for out-of-state participants) on multi-agency drone responses Sept. 21 and 22 at the fire department headquarters. Read more and register >

Regulation and Policy

AOPA backs drone preemption

AOPA joined a coalition urging defeat of an amendment to the pending FAA reauthorization bill that would allow state and local regulation of drones, citing harm that would result. Read more >

FAA issues 100K remote pilot certificates

The FAA announced July 26 that more than 100,000 remote pilot certificates have been issued in less than two years since Part 107 was finalized. Read more >

Opinion: FAA slowing drone development

Heritage Foundation analysts are critical of the FAA's approach to drones. Read more >

InterDrone Podcast features Greg McNeal

AirMap co-founder Greg McNeal talked to the InterDrone Podcast before the popular Las Vegas show. Listen to the podcast >

News

Survey shows farmers embrace drones

A recent survey of 269 farmers found that 75 percent of respondents have put drones to work. Read more >

Drone injures toddler

Police in Iowa are investigating a drone crash that left a one-year-old with facial lacerations, an incident that highlights why flights over people are restricted. Read more and watch a video >

Guinn on drone industry

Colin Guinn has played key roles with some of the biggest names in the drone industry. He shares his views on what's ahead in this in-depth interview with Commercial UAV News. Read more >