UAV roundupCyberBug receives FAA certification
FAA awards small, hand-launched UAV certificate to operate in national airspace; vehicle equally suitable for law enforcement and commercial applications
A significant milestone for St. Petersberg, Florida-based Cyber Defense Systems: The company has received an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate (EAC) for its small CyberBug from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which, according to the company, is the first for small hand-launched unmanned aerial system (UAS) under 100 lbs in the United States. The certification allows the CyberBug to fly in the National Airspace System.
To date the FAA has issued only twelve EACs for UAS operations in civil airspace, with CyberBug being the lightest. The CyberBug is carried disassembeled, and can can be assembled in minutes and launched from an open area. The small vehicle flies for up to an hour and transmit video and data to a portable ground control station. The CyberBug is remotely controlled by an operator who can direct the vehicle to monitor dangerous events, see around buildings, over hills, and beyond line of sight. It may be used in search and rescue, traffic monitoring, environmental, research, border patrol, drug interdiction, and other applications.
