FBI Seeking Information on Illegal Drone Activity Near Tucson

The FBI has gone public with a search for a drone that seems to have created a hazard while flying near a CBP helicopter. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that they are, "seeking to identify the person(s) responsible for illegally flying a drone near a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter. On February 9, 2021, at 10:30 p.m., employees of CBP informed the Tucson Police Department that a drone was flying dangerously close to their helicopter." Over the next few hours, multiple law enforcement agencies worked to locate the drone’s operator but were unsuccessful.

"Weight Threshold Is No Longer An Appropriate Criterion"

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has proposed amending the definition of “Unmanned aircraft accident” by removing the weight-based requirement and replacing it with an airworthiness certificate or airworthiness approval requirement. They believe that the weight threshold is no longer an appropriate criterion because unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) under 300 lbs. are operating in high-risk environments, such as beyond line-of-sight and over populated areas. The proposed definition will allow the NTSB to be notified of and quickly respond to UAS events with safety significance.

PAG Expands MRO Capabilities To Include Rolls-Royce M250

Precision Aviation Group has acquired Keystone Turbine Services (KTS) of Coatesville, Pennsylvania. KTS specializes in providing complete OEM-approved aftermarket MRO) services for operators of the Rolls-Royce M250 series of gas turbine engines, along with related Honeywell and Triumph accessories plus component, spare parts, and field service support. David Mast, President & CEO of PAG stated, "We are excited about adding KTS to the Precision Aviation Group of Companies.  The addition of KTS increases PAG's repair stations to 12 worldwide, and further diversifies our MRO Capabilities by expanding our services into the Rolls-Royce M250 Engine..."

MissionGO, LifeSource and Allina Health Complete Historic Test Flight

MissionGO, LifeSource and Mercy Hospital have conducted what they report to be the first-ever test flight carrying a human pancreas via an UAS conducted on May 5. Following a moment of silence led by Lead Pilot Ryan Henderson to honor the donor hero, this flight transported a research pancreas from Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, flew a 10-mile circuit over the Mississippi River, then returned to Mercy Hospital. This flight successfully demonstrated the viability, value, efficiency gains and delivery speed of lifesaving organs via UAS within the Twin Cities metro area.

Helicopter Impacted And Severed An Energized Wire, Also Known As A "Primary Wire"

On May 2, 2021, at 1318 eastern daylight time, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, N4528T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Wingate, North Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The commercial pilot was spraying fungicide on a wheat field when the accident occurred. According to several witnesses, this was the first time they had observed the northwest portion of the field, which contained multiple power lines, being sprayed via aerial application. The helicopter had been applying fungicide all morning, operating about 15 ft abov