The FAA receive 25 applications from 24 states to host the UAS test sites. Of those, the agency chose the following: University of Alaska, the state of Nevada, New York’s Griffiss International Airport, North Dakota Department of Commerce, Texas A&M University, and Virginia Tech.
“In selecting the six test site operators, the FAA considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, safety, aviation experience, and risk,” wrote the FAA in an announcement. “In totality, these six test applications achieve cross-country geographic and climatic diversity and help the FAA meet its UAS research needs.”
Each test site will be responsible for the development of different areas of research, as the FAA explains in the descriptions below:
University of Alaska.
The University of Alaska proposal contained a diverse set of test site
range locations in seven climatic zones as well as geographic diversity
with test site range locations in Hawaii and Oregon. The research plan
includes the development of a set of standards for unmanned aircraft
categories, state monitoring and navigation. Alaska also plans to work
on safety standards for UAS operations.
State of Nevada.
Nevada’s project objectives concentrate on UAS standards and operations
as well as operator standards and certification requirements. The
applicant’s research will also include a concentrated look at how air
traffic control procedures will evolve with the introduction of UAS into
the civil environment and how these aircraft will be integrated with
NextGen. Nevada’s selection contributes to geographic and climatic
diversity.
New York’s Griffiss International Airport.
Griffiss International plans to work on developing test and evaluation
as well as verification and validation processes under FAA safety
oversight. The applicant also plans to focus its research on sense and
avoid capabilities for UAS and its sites will aide in researching the
complexities of integrating UAS into the congested, northeast airspace.
North Dakota Department of Commerce.
North Dakota plans to develop UAS airworthiness essential data and
validate high reliability link technology. This applicant will also
conduct human factors research. North Dakota’s application was the only
one to offer a test range in the Temperate (continental) climate zone
and included a variety of different airspace which will benefit multiple
users.
Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi.
Texas A&M plans to develop system safety requirements for UAS
vehicles and operations with a goal of protocols and procedures for
airworthiness testing. The selection of Texas A&M contributes to
geographic and climactic diversity.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
Virginia Tech plans to conduct UAS failure mode testing and identify
and evaluate operational and technical risks areas. This proposal
includes test site range locations in both Virginia and New Jersey.
Under current law, the FAA allows users of small UAS to fly their crafts at altitudes lower than 400 feet, and they must remain within the operator’s line of sight. Several universities and 80 law enforcement agencies have received a so-called Certificate of Authority to fly larger drones for official purposes (like doing research, conducting surveillance, or making money). Only one commercial enterprise, energy giant ConocoPhillips, has received a Certificate of Authority thus far, and its area of operation is limited to the arctic region of Alaska.
Within the next two years, that will change. In November, the FAA released its “road map” for the integration of UAS into American airspace, which is slated to begin on September 30, 2015, as mandated by a law enacted in 2012. At that point, the FAA will begin to allow individuals and companies – Amazon and UPS, for example – to fly drones for commercial purposes on a large scale.
While the FAA says it plans to release rules for small UAS pilots next year, the agency plans to integrate larger UAS more slowly. The FAA expects as many as 7,500 commercial drones to occupy US airspace within the next five years.
To find out more about the drone testing sites, check out the FAA’s “Fact Sheet” here.
By Andrew Couts — http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/faa-announces-six-drone-testing-sites/
Global Elite Political Theater: Fukushima
(Nancy Levant) Something is far beyond contaminated and glow-fishy about the Fukushima meltdown. For two years it has been discussed and swarming with expertise, but with no limiting or actual efforts to stop the radiological contaminants from being released into the Pacific and all other connected oceans, the largest food and oxygen sources on the planet. Yet, surfers are surfing, swimmers are swimming, children are playing on beaches, and restaurants all over the earth are eating Pacific fish and also contaminated Atlantic fish according to multiple reports.
http://theartof12.blogspot.com/2013/12/global-elite-political-theater-fukushima.html
JUNIOR POTUS POLY ADDICT #43, U$$TA$I$RAELI NAZI AGENT, more than proves we've got no less than three (3) generations of healing the BRAINS that aren't 'whole' by any stretch of an imagination - SO WHAT do we do? Get 'Police' Brain Dead P HARM Aceutical POISONED to KILL for the cause of course.
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