1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |Cleared for Takeoff: FAA to Allow Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Later this Year

Cleared for Takeoff: FAA to Allow Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Later this Year

Client Alert | 1 min read | 07.30.13

On July 19, the FAA issued a Restricted Category type certificate to two small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that permits aerial surveillance in the Arctic, a significant development that will pave the way for commercial UAS operations later this year (previously discussed here and here). Previous military use of the approved UAS helped facilitate FAA's action, which comes as an encouraging sign for aerospace manufacturers seeking new markets as well as other industries anticipating the emergence of civilian UAS, including agriculture, oil and gas exploration, law enforcement, and security.


Insights

Client Alert | 1 min read | 04.18.24

GSA Clarifies Permissibility of Upfront Payments for Software-as-a-Service Offerings

On March 15, 2024, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued Acquisition Letter MV-2024-01 providing guidance to GSA contracting officers on the use of upfront payments for acquisitions of cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).  Specifically, this acquisition letter clarifies that despite statutory prohibitions against the use of “advance” payments outside of narrowly-prescribed circumstances, upfront payments for SaaS licenses do not constitute an “advance” payment subject to these restrictions when made under the following conditions:...