FAA designates new sites to support unmanned aircraft integration.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced two new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) test sites in Oklahoma and Indiana. This is the first expansion of the program in nearly a decade. The sites will support testing and evaluation of drone technologies as part of ongoing efforts to safely integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace.
“These test sites help the U.S. assess emerging technologies to modernize methods for cargo delivery, Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations and multiple drone operations while informing safety and security,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “Together, we will usher in the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into our NAS.”
“These new technologies can save lives on reservations with useful practices, including the transportation of medical supplies to far-reaching corners of these tribal lands,” said Assistant Secretary of Tribal Government Affairs James Crawford.
FAA officials said data collected at the sites will inform future safety rules, including operations beyond visual line of sight and advanced cargo and mobility uses. This expansion brings the total number of FAA-designated test sites to nine nationwide.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Administrator Bedford as he oversees the advancement and innovation of drone technology and safety.
- For Assistant Secretary Crawford as he collaborates on the expansion of drone testing to benefit vulnerable communities.
- For wisdom for officials in the FAA and DOT as they seek to improve aviation safety.
Sources: Department of Transportation
