FAA announces six civilian drone test sites

FAA UAS test site selection a first step toward tremendous growth, more than $82B in first decade, AUVSI says - Avionics Intelligence 

 

And the UAS goes to: Fact Sheet – FAA UAS Test Site Program 

Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas, Virginia

On December 30, 2013, the FAA announced the following six applicants had been selected to operate the UAS test sites:

• 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.
  Testing Center Home | University of Alaska Southeast
• 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.
  BREAKING: Nevada Selected as UAV Development Center - My News 4 - KRNV, Reno, NV
• 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 aid in researching the complexities of integrating UAS into the congested, northeast airspace.
  FAA selects Central New York as national test site for drone research | syracuse.com
• 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.
  FAA Chooses North Dakota To Test Unmanned Aircraft Systems -- GRAND FORKS, N.D., Dec. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
• 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.
  Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi selected by FAA to develop unmanned aircraft systems | North Dallas Gazette
• 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.
  VaCAS | Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems

Avionics Magazine :: First UAV Test Site to Open June 28, 2014
 From the congested air traffic of the northeast, to the extreme climates of Hawaii and Alaska, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sought to represent U.S. airspace diversity in its six choices for all Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) testing to begin June 28, 2014.

BBC News - US announces six drone test sites

The US aviation regulator has announced the six states that will host sites for testing commercial use of drones.The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) picked Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia.The sites are part of a programme to develop safety and operational rules for drones by the end of 2015.Hitherto mainly used by the military, the potential of drones is now being explored by everyone from real estate agents to farmers or delivery services.The head of the FAA, Michael Huerta, said safety would be the priority as it considers approval for unleashing the unmanned aircraft into US skies.

And the losers are:

18 others, including California, Ohio, Colorado

Six states chosen as drone testing sites; California among losers - latimes.com
WASHINGTON -- After a fierce nationwide competition that offers potentially big economic benefits for the winners, six sites were selected Monday for testing of how drones can be more widely used in U.S. airspace. ... California, vying to become the Silicon Valley of robotic aircraft, was among the losers in the 24-state competition.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-us-drone-testing-sites-20131230,0,5172767.story#ixzz2ozshunYc

FAA does not pick Dayton or Springfield as drone test site | www.daytondailynews.com
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration announced today six public entities that will develop unmanned aircraft systems, and the Dayton-Springfield area was not on the list.
The rejection delivered a major blow to Ohio officials who had argued that the combined Ohio-Indiana application and the presence of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base would have made an ideal location.


FAA nixes Colorado as drone test site | Today's News | Boulder County Business Report
 Gov. John Hickenlooper and Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., backed the idea of a drone test site in Colorado. In May, Udall said Colorado's strong aerospace industry could support such a test site.

Civilian uses for drones include agriculture, forest-fire support, disaster assessment, search and rescue missions, oil and gas exploration and research projects, according to a letter sent from Colorado leaders to the FAA in the test-site request.

A team of Colorado leaders working on the project included 10 economic development agencies, seven universities, five industry associations, two state agencies and dozens of private companies.