Also: Drones Deliver Vaccines, High-Resolution Forecasts, Microsoft Azure, Propeller Aero And DJI

U.S. Army pilots exercised supervised autonomy to direct an optionally-piloted helicopter (OPV) through a series of missions to demonstrate technology developed by Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky and DARPA.

The series of flights marked the first time that non-Sikorsky pilots operated the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft (SARA), a modified S-76B commercial helicopter, as an OPV aircraft. Sikorsky is developing autonomous and optionally-piloted technology that will ultimately decrease instances of the number one cause of helicopter crashes: Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). AUVSI has launched the Trusted Operator Program (TOP), a new certification program available to remote pilots and UAS training organizations. Through TOP, operators and organizations can distinguish themselves in a growing marketplace by holding themselves to a higher standard of safety and professionalism. UAV propulsion manufacturer Northwest UAV (NWUAV) has successfully completed the first phase towards FAA 14 CFR Part 21 Type Certification in support of the NW44 type certification program. Members of the FAA team, which comprised FAA Flight Standards (AC-AW), AIR UAS Programs and Procedures Division, AIR Policy & Innovation Division and the Engine Directorate, came together on October 16th and 17th at NWUAV headquarters in McMinnville, Oregon for the first gated certification process in collaboration with the FAA. All this -- and MORE in today's episode of Airborne-Unmanned!!!

Airborne-Unmanned 11.06.18 is chock full of info in this Weekly News Episode, Tuesday, November 6th, 2018... Presented by Aero-TV veteran videographer and Airborne Hosts Brianne Cross, Christopher Odom, and Laura Hutson, and is supported by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief Jim Campbell, Chief Videographer Nathan Cremisino, and Aero-Journalist Tom Patton, this episode covers:

• U.S. Army Pilots Fly Autonomous Sikorsky Helicopter
• AUVSI Launches Trusted Operator Program
• Northwest UAV Moves Towards FAA Part 21 Type Certification
• Drones To Deliver Vaccines In Vanuatu 
• Companies Partner To Offer High-Resolution Forecasts For UAS/Drone Operators 
• Microsoft Azure Will Power AirMap's Traffic Management Platform For Drones
• Propeller Aero And DJI Join Forces To Launch New PPK Drone Solution

Get Comprehensive, Real-Time, 24/7 coverage of the latest aviation and aerospace stories anytime, at aero-news.net. And be sure to join us again next week for the next edition of "Airborne-Unmanned" here on Aero-TV. Thanks for watching. See you, again, next week!

© 2018, Aero-News Network, Inc., ALL Rights Reserved.

FMI: www.airborne-unmanned.net, www.airbornetv.net, www.aero-news.net, www.amadronereport.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, https://vimeo.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews