Model Airplanes

The millions of small civilian drones plying the nation’s skies can cause significant damage to airliners and business jets in a midair collision, new research commissioned by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration concluded.

While most drones weigh only a few pounds, they include motors and other metal equipment that could cause significant damage to aircraft engines, windshields or wings upon impact, according to the study by an FAA research center.

Even though airliners and other aircraft are designed to take impacts from birds, “it doesn’t mean they are going to be able to withstand a 4-pound or an 8-pound UAS impact,” said Gerardo Olivares, a researcher at Wichita State University who helped lead the study. He referred to drones as UAS, or unmanned aerial systems.

The results of the government-sanctioned study, the most comprehensive of its kind to date, add urgency to FAA’s efforts to improve safety as the industry pushes to expand drone operations in everything from delivering consumer goods to performing aerial inspections. It also comes on the heels of the first two midair collisions between small drones and traditional aircraft in North America.

Last month the FAA said reports of drone-safety incidents, including flying improperly or getting too close to other aircraft, now average about 250 a month, up more than 50 percent from a year earlier. The reports include near-collisions described by pilots on airliners, law-enforcement helicopters or aerial tankers fighting wildfires.

Read More: Amazon’s Dream of

Article source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-28/faa-warns-of-drone-collision-risks-with-airplanes-as-use-grows

Gerald (Jerry) Denver Bandy Jr., 78, passed away at 8:48am on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017, at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born at the family home in Mulberry Grove, Illinois, on June 26, 1939, the son of the late Gerald D. Bandy and Nelda C. (Schmollinger) Bandy. He is survived by his sister: Donna Laster and his brothers: Larry Bandy (Charlene) and Michael Bandy (Shirley). Also surviving are 3 generations of nieces and nephews.

Jerry served in the Air Force after graduating from East Alton Wood River Community High School in 1957. While in the service, he trained to be an electrician on our country’s fighter jets. He was especially proud of the work he did on F15s for our military. He enjoyed travel to many countries and worked at numerous military bases until his retirement from McDonnell Douglas. After retiring, Jerry became the local “fix it guy” for neighbors and friends and always had a project tractor or riding mower keeping him busy. He enjoyed many hobbies such as race car driving, hunting, building and flying model airplanes, gardening, exhibiting tractors, collecting all types of antiques and Native American artifacts, but his favorite past time was farming.

He was a good neighbor and friend to many and was a fun loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He could be generous to a fault with others while at times being very frugal with himself. If he chose to, he could pinch a penny but

Article source: http://www.altondailynews.com/obits/details.cfm?clientid=17&id=13974

Matt Lauer, who has coanchored the “Today” show for 20 years, has been terminated from NBC News amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Article source: http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/36945341/fedex-buys-newly-designed-airplanes

The millions of small civilian drones plying the nation’s skies can cause significant damage to airliners and business jets in a midair collision, new research commissioned by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration concluded.

While most drones weigh only a few pounds, they include motors and other metal equipment that could cause significant damage to aircraft engines, windshields or wings upon impact, according to the study by an FAA research center.

Even though airliners and other aircraft are designed to take impacts from birds, “it doesn’t mean they are going to be able to withstand a 4-pound or an 8-pound UAS impact,” said Gerardo Olivares, a researcher at Wichita State University who helped lead the study. He referred to drones as UAS, or unmanned aerial systems.

The results of the government-sanctioned study, the most comprehensive of its kind to date, add urgency to FAA’s efforts to improve safety as the industry pushes to expand drone operations in everything from delivering consumer goods to performing aerial inspections. It also comes on the heels of the first two midair collisions between small drones and traditional aircraft in North America.

Last month the FAA said reports of drone-safety incidents, including flying improperly or getting too close to other aircraft, now average about 250 a month, up more than 50 percent from a year earlier. The reports include near-collisions described by pilots on airliners, law-enforcement helicopters or aerial tankers fighting wildfires.

Read More: Amazon’s Dream of

Article source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-28/faa-warns-of-drone-collision-risks-with-airplanes-as-use-grows