FAA Doubles "Blanket" Altitude for Many UAS Flights

March 29- After a comprehensive risk analysis, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has raised the unmanned aircraft (UAS) “blanket” altitude authorization for Section 333 exemption holders and government aircraft operators to 400 feet. Previously, the agency had put in place a nationwide Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for such flights up to 200 feet.

The new COA policy allows small unmanned aircraft—operated as other than model aircraft (i.e. commercial use)—to fly up to 400 feet anywhere in the country except restricted airspace and other areas, such as major cities, where the agency prohibits UAS operations.

“This is another milestone in our effort to change the traditional speed of government,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “Expanding the authorized airspace for these operations means government and industry can carry out unmanned aircraft missions more quickly and with less red tape.”

The FAA expects the move will reduce the workload for COA applications for industry UAS operators, government agencies and the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. The agency also estimates the move will lessen the need for individual COAs by 30 to 40 percent. Other provisions of an FAA authorization, such as registering the UAS and making sure pilots have the proper certification, still apply.

Under the blanket COA, the FAA will permit flights at or below 400 feet for UAS operators with a Section 333 exemption for aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds and for government UAS operations. Operators must fly under daytime Visual Flight Rules, keep the UAS within visual line of sight of the pilot and stay certain distances away from airports or heliports:

• Five nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or
• Three NM from an airport with a published instrument flight procedure, but not an operational tower; or
• Two NM from an airport without a published instrument flight procedure or an operational tower; or
• Two NM from a heliport with a published instrument flight procedure.

Source: https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85264

New Trimble Positions Software Updates

The Trimble® Positions™ software suite has been updated with enhancements and new features to further improve productivity for users. These updates will be available by the end of February 2016.

What's New

• Enhanced Trimble TerraSync™ support.
• The ability to create Trimble TerraSync projects from DDF or SSF.
• Improved post-processing options.
• Support for the Trimble R2 GNSS receiver and Trimble Nomad® 1050 handheld.
• Support for the new Trimble FieldPoint RTX™ correction service and 5 minute RTX convergence with the Trimble GIS Geo 7X handheld and Trimble R2 GNSS receiver.
• Database management improvements.
• Support for ArcGIS Desktop 10.3.1 and 10.4.
• Support for ArcGIS ArcPad 10.2.3.

Availability

The latest version of Trimble Positions software is expected to be released by the end of February 2016.

Read more

New Trimble FieldPoint RTX Service Now Available on Trimble GIS Geo 7X Handhelds and Trimble R2 GNSS Receivers

Trimble introduces a new Trimble® RTX™ correction service — Trimble FieldPoint RTX™ — which delivers decimeter level accuracy to customers worldwide via IP using Trimble Geo 7X handhelds*, or via satellite or IP with Trimble R2 GNSS receivers.

With a fast 5 minute convergence time in select regions or 15 minutes convergence nearly worldwide, users can collect highly accurate data at higher yields just about anywhere. *Not available on Trimble Survey Geo 7X handhelds using Trimble Access™ software. Readmore

TRIMBLE® GEO 7X HANDHELD OPERATING SYSTEM UPDATES

Operating system version 6.7.17, GNSS firmware version 4.30.8 (February 2016) Version 6.7.17 is the Windows Embedded Handheld operating system currently shipping for all Trimble Geo 7 series handheld products. Trimble recommends that all Geo 7X handheld customers upgrade to this version. Resolved issues and enhancements The 6.7.17 operating system includes the following issue resolutions and functional enhancements:

• RTX update: Includes support for new Trimble RTX subscription types, including Trimble FieldPoint RTX and Fast RTX subscriptions. For more information on these services, contact Trimble Positioning Services, or your local authorized Trimble reseller.

• Free memory issue: Resolves an issue where the World Magnetic Model file inadvertently consumed additional memory from application process-slots resulting in large applications having insufficient process slot memory to fully function.

• Camera issue: Resolves an issue where images captured at low resolution and high zoom are incorrectly exposed.

Release notes: http://trl.trimble.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-805263/Geo%207X%20OS%20Release%20Note_V6717_RevE.pdf

Full OS download http://trl.trimble.com/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-805264/Geo7Upg_64979_LP_CHT.CAB

Air Force Official Press Release - GPS Ground System Anomaly

On 26 January at 12:49 a.m. MST, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at the 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., verified users were experiencing GPS timing issues.  Further investigation revealed an issue in the Global Positioning System ground software which only affected the time on legacy L-band signals. This change occurred when the oldest vehicle, SVN 23, was removed from the constellation. 

While the core navigation systems were working normally, the coordinated universal time timing signal was off by 13 microseconds which exceeded the design specifications. The issue was resolved at 6:10 a.m. MST, however global users may have experienced GPS timing issues for several hours.  U.S. Strategic Command's Commercial Integration Cell, operating out of the Joint Space Operations Center, effectively served as the portal to determine the scope of commercial user impacts.  

Additionally, the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB has not received any reports of issues with GPS-aided munitions, and has determined that the timing error is not attributable to any type of outside interference such as jamming or spoofing.  Operator procedures were modified to preclude a repeat of this issue until the ground system software is corrected, and the 50th Space Wing will conduct an Operational Review Board to review procedures and impacts on users. Commercial and Civil users who experienced impacts can contact the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center at

(703) 313-5900.

V/R

Rick Hamilton

CGSIC Executive Secretariat

GPS Information Analysis Team Lead

U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center

703-313-5930 

Arkansas State Surveyor Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

January 19, 2016

 

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

 

The Arkansas Division of Land Surveys is pleased to announce that John M. Thornton of Hot Springs, Arkansas has been appointed as State Surveyor.

 

He is a native Arkansan, residing in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology, Minor in Math and commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from Arkansas Tech University.  After graduation, John attended officer basic training and upon completion returned home and joined Company A, 489th Combat Engineer Battalion, US Army Reserve. Upon completion of service as Company Commander and serving with the 489th Battalion, he joined the 122nd ARCOM division as a Major and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before leaving his 20 year military career. He began his survey career in 1974 and he became a licensed Professional Surveyor in 1979 and has maintained continuous licensure since that time.

 

During thirty-six years of Professional Surveying he spent thirty-four years at B & F Engineering, Inc. in Hot Springs, Arkansas and the last six years as Branch Survey Manager with Garver, LLC.  

 

John has been involved in every facet of surveying that includes research, fieldwork, deliverables for cadastral, topographic, control and hydrological surveys.  He has performed and managed survey work for construction staking for various forms of infrastructure such as bridges, streets, highways, drainage, utilities, levees, and parking lots.

 

His clients have ranged from individual property owners, to large corporations, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  During his span of work, the Arkansas Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors has received no professional complaint of any form.

 

John possesses another important credential, as a Certified Floodplain Manager, licensed through the Arkansas Floodplain Management Program of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.  He has used that knowledge to assist the City of Hot Springs, and Garland County with floodplain management activities.  This activity requires the navigation of a complex set of rules and procedures required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program. John is considered an authority among his peers on matters related to elevation certifications for the National Flood Insurance Program.

 

A substantial portion of John's time has been volunteered to the Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors.  His involvement with the State's Surveying Society has ranged from thirty-six years of continual membership, to service as chairman of several committees, he served on the Board of Directors, served as President, and currently serves as the Legislative Committee chair.  The Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors provided their unanimous endorsement of his candidacy for this position. 

 

On John’s appointment, Shelby Johnson, State Geographic Information Officer said, “I am excited we have John in place to lead the Division into the future.  Everett Rowland laid a good foundation with his years of service and I have no doubt that John will usher in some new ideas and progress on this work.  I’m looking forward to his success and the chance to learn from his experience.”

 

Arkansas Governor, Asa Hutchinson, said, “I’m very excited to welcome John Thornton as our new State Surveyor.  John’s qualifications and expertise have well-prepared him for this role.  I know that he will be a great asset to the state of Arkansas.” Thornton and Johnson are scheduled to meet with the Governor in the coming weeks to review future plans for the Division.   The State Surveyor position and the Division of Land Surveys were created in 1973, with the mission to preserve the Public Land Survey System in Arkansas.  The previous State Surveyors are Rayford Hudson, Cotton Green and Everett Rowland.  Thornton becomes the fourth person to have held the title of State Surveyor since 1973.   

 

 

END RELEASE

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