The FAA's eVTOL pilot program spans 8 projects in 26 states. Its first operation carried an organ, not a passenger. Seven of the eight leads are state or regional agencies. One is a city. Is your city at the table? #aam #evtol #govtech

San Francisco's Police Commission voted 5-1 on Oct 14 to advance its first police drone policy. It bans general surveillance, but "public safety" is still undefined. A policy says what a drone may do. A log shows what it did. #govtech #publicsafety

Gastonia, NC told residents why Walmart delivery drones may fly over their neighborhoods. Good. But a notice isn't a record. Publish flight numbers, noise data and a complaint line before the first delivery. #govtech #smartcities

The UK CAA's new noise report (CAP3304) says drones and eVTOLs may be quieter than helicopters but fly closer to homes. Its answer: complaints processes, community engagement, noise data. Ask how your city will log complaints before the first flight. #aam #evtol

Dominion Energy plans to add 100 docked drones for inspections. The FAA's proposed Part 74 would let critical infrastructure sites petition for flight restrictions. Sites that log what flies nearby will be better placed. Would yours qualify? #infrastructure #aam

A 200-acre fire jumped a river in Stone County, Missouri on Oct 12. A fire district's drone, bought with grant money meant for water rescues, showed crews where. Highlandville's chief had never seen a drone at a fire. Does your fire district have one? #publicsafety #aam

Portland's council voted 11-0 on Oct 14 to start the state process for a possible pause on drone hubs. No moratorium yet. Oregon bars city drone flight rules, so the lever is land use. If you run a city, are you waiting for the FAA or moving now? #govtech #aam

The D.C. Circuit heard Hikvision's challenge on Oct 6 to the FCC's power over equipment it already authorized. Drones aren't in the case, but the FCC is weighing the same step for foreign-made drones. Owned fleets would keep flying. Get your inventory in order now. #aam #govtech

WarrenUAS's second tactical drone course for regional first responders (Nov 21) is built for team leaders: leading, instructing and evaluating missions. Training pilots is step one. Who evaluates your agency's drone missions? #aam #publicsafety

SpaceX agreed Oct 8 to buy 800 MHz low-band spectrum, reportedly for about $8B. On Oct 29 the FCC votes on letting drones use 50 MHz of the 800 MHz cellular band. If drones ride carrier networks, those networks join the airspace stack. #aam #infrastructure