There is not much time left until the September 2015 deadline set by Congress for the FAA to integrate UAVs into the National Airspace System (NAS). But an announcement that came yesterday indicates the agency is making headway toward that implementation. The FAA announced that the first of six UAV test sites is ready.
A certificate of authorization (COA), a segment of airspace dedicated for UAV testing, was issued to the North Dakota Department of Commerce for use of a Draganflyer X4ES within the confines of the Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site. The COA, which covers areas over Carrington and Devils Lake, North Dakota, will allow the Department of Commerce to conduct tests for a period of two years. The team plans to begin its operations early next month.
In addition to evaluating the viability of the drone in the NAS, the tests will be used to help establish airworthiness and maintenance requirements for small unmanned aerial systems (UAS). “These data will lay the groundwork for reducing risks and ensuring continued safe operations of UAS,” said FAA administrator Michael Huerta.
The tests will be conducted in a real-world scenario. The Draganflyer X4ES will be used to check soil quality and the status of crops in support of North Dakota State University/Extension Service precision agriculture research studies, the FAA said.
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