The FAA has announced the selection of six public entities that will develop unmanned aircraft systems research and test sites around the country.
It said the sites would conduct research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate these systems into the national airspace over the next several years beyond current functions such as border and port surveillance and scientific research.
The sites, which were selected to cover a variety of conditions and contexts, include the University of Alaska, the State of Nevada, New York’s Griffiss International Airport, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, and a partnership between Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia Tech.
Among other requirements, test site operators will be required to comply with federal, state, and other laws protecting an individual’s right to privacy.
The FAA in November released a roadmap outlining efforts needed to safely integrate UAS into the nation’s airspace system, setting the stage for an extensive future integration of UAS into the NextGen aviation system.
For more information available here: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/.
