FAA To Field Test Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management Capabilities

Administration says that lessons learned during the UTM field tests will be used to support the development of new policies.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 06:18 PM ET

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The Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) field test is set to launch in the spring and continue into 2023. [File Photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is launching field tests for Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) to further integrate drones into the national airspace system.
These UTM tests are designed to gather data and inform the development of new policies and industry standards, specifically for drones operating beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS).
UTM is an ecosystem for managing low-altitude (under 400 feet) BVLOS drone operations, complementary to existing air traffic services, and is needed due to the dramatic increase in drone use and sightings.

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In a bid to further integrate drones into the national airspace system, the FAA will soon launch field tests of unmanned aircraft traffic management capabilities, the agency recently said.

The Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) field test, which is set to launch in the spring and continue into 2023, is expected to lead to new policies and the development of updated industry standards for drones operating beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), according to the agency.