Tornado Alley (PROG)

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FAA certifies first 2 drones for domestic [civilian/commercial] flight


FILE - In this June 28, 2013 file photo, Nick Morgan, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, prepares to launch a PUMA drone into the wind on the stern of the Research Vessel Tatoosh during a research mission near the Quillayute Needles Archipelago off the coast of La Push.
(AP Photo/The Seattle Times, John Lok)
[via http://newsok.com/faa-certifies-first-2-drones-for-domestic-flight/article/feed/570830 (no comments yet); same photo also in this AP original of this story]

By JOAN LOWY
Jul. 26 11:25 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators say they have certified two types of unmanned aircraft for civilian use, a milestone expected to lead to the first approved commercial drone operations later this summer.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday the drones are Insitu's Scan Eagle X200 and AeroVironment's PUMA. Both weigh less than 55 pounds, are about 4.5 feet long and have wingspans of 9 to 10 feet.

A major energy company plans to fly the Scan Eagle off the Alaska coast starting in August to survey ice floes and migrating whales. The PUMA is expected to support emergency response crews for oil spill monitoring and wildlife surveillance over the Beaufort Sea.

Most nonmilitary use of drones in the U.S. has been limited to police and other government agencies.

© 2013 Associated Press

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/faa-certifies-first-2-drones-domestic-flight [no comments yet] [and with comments at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/27/faa-drones-civilian-use_n_3662269.html ]

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