Expecting a Drone This Holiday? NCDOT Reminds Operators to Fly Safe and Legal Drones are a popular holiday gift, but it is important that new drone owners take time to know how to safely fly an unmanned aircraft. More than 30,000 North Carolinians now own and operate drones for recreational use. With this number growing, […]
North Carolina
Judge Rules in Favor of North Carolina Airport in Land-Lease Court Case
Wake County, North Carolina Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley ruled today in favor of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority in a lawsuit filed by activists who oppose the land-lease agreement between the Authority and Wake Stone Corporation. In the ruling regarding the agreement that could expand an existing quarry on airport property, Judge Shirley found […]
Data on the Fly Event In NC Uses Aviation to Inspire Students, Honor Gold Star Families
Photo above – Karen Allen and Don Koch, SAS employees that have been instrumental in developing the successful Data on the Fly program. Data on the Fly, an event sponsored by SAS that uses aviation to inspire students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers, returned to the North Carolina DOT’s Division of Aviation […]
Nominations Being Accepted for NCAA’s First Annual Willard G. Plentl, Jr. Airport Professional of the Year Award
The North Carolina Airports Association (NCAA) is calling for nominations for the first annual Willard G. Plentl, Jr. Airport Professional of the Year award. The award, which was established in the memory of Willard G. Plentl, Jr., will annually recognize an airport professional who positively impacts the aviation industry in North Carolina. The inaugural award […]
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces FAA Certification of UPS Flight Forward as an Air Carrier
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded air carrier and operator certification to an unmanned aircraft system (UAS, or drone) delivery company, UPS Flight Forward. “This is a big step forward in safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems into our airspace, expanding access to healthcare in North […]
NCDOT Using Drones for Cleaner, Safer Herbicide Spraying
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation and its Environmental Analysis Unit have teamed up to fight invasive plants with a new tool: drones. The area around Bodie Island Lighthouse was overrun with Phragmites, a type of aggressive, non-native marsh grass that pushes out all native species. NCDOT was responsible for combating the invasive […]
Passenger Growth Elevates RDU from Medium to Large Airport Category
Record-setting passenger growth elevated Raleigh-Durham International Airport from a medium to large airport in a 2019 J.D. Power study of North American airports. The North Carolina airport ranked fifth, in passenger satisfaction in its new category. “We are thrilled that passengers consider RDU one of the top five best large airports in North America,” said […]
North Carolina Pilot Provides Hope, New Perspective to Kids – Yes I Did, Yes I Can!
By Kim J Stevens It’s true. Bob Epting, recipient of the 2019 Phillips 66® Aviation Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Leadership Award, has provided a lot of kids their first airplane ride; In fact, through EAA’s Young Eagles program, he’s made 3,150 flights – nothing to sneeze at. Yet, if you talk to Bob, […]
NASAO Recognizes NCDOT Drone Program and Director Bobby Walston
The North Carolina Department of Transportation was honored this week for its pioneering use of drones to respond to hurricanes and deliver medical supplies. The National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) named NCDOT’s drone program as the 2019 Most Innovative State Program at its annual convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday night. Also Tuesday, […]
NCDOT’s Use of Drones after Hurricane Florence Wins Award
Photo above – Drone-captured image of floodwaters in Chinquapin, NC after Hurricane Florence. In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Florence, the N.C. Department of Transportation used drones in an unprecedented manner to monitor and document flooding, road conditions and traffic impacts. In recognition of those efforts, NCDOT has earned a regional award in the 2019 […]
