Posts Tagged ‘unmanned aircraft systems’

UAV Pilot Training – Use of UAS Likely to Expand

Monday, July 19th, 2010
By Kyle Garrett
UAV in flight

The use of UAVs like this one are expected to grow exponentially

The future looks bright for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. In anticipation of growing demand, several colleges and universities, including the University of North Dakota, are offering bachelor’s degrees in unmanned aircraft systems. But UAVs face challenges as their numbers increase. Explore those challenges with us in our latest UAS article.

Remotely piloted vehicles and unmanned drones, collectively known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems, have revolutionized the way the military performs certain tasks. Many tasks that are dangerous or simply boring are routinely handled by these devices in today’s military. Now, the FAA is facing mounting pressure from civilian and law enforcement agencies to further expand UAS use into the national airspace system… (read the full Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Likely to Expand article)

Explore the University of North Dakota UAS degree program

FAA Announces Two Year Agreement to Test Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
By Mathew Everett – Guest Blogger

A recent two year agreement between the FAA, Insitu Inc., and the New Jersey National Guard seeks to study the integration of unmanned aircraft systems in the national airspace system.

Insitu Inc. is a subsidiary of Boeing and will be providing two ScanEagle aircraft and related hardware.  Additionally, they will train FAA staff in piloting and maintaining these systems.  The New Jersey National Guard will play host to the flight testing program which will take place in their Warren Grove Range.

Currently UAS operate under special certificates of authorization that are determined on a case-by-case basis.  Most operations are segregated from other traffic as UAS are cleared to operate in restricted airspace.

The program, managed by the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, will focus on UAS design, construction, and functionality with special emphasis on differences in handling UAS and manned aircraft by an air traffic control.  With more than 1500 UAS currently in production and given their unique capabilities, it is important to develop guidelines for their safe integration into the national airspace system.

Learn more about UAV pilot training at AviationSchoolsOnline.com

Read the full FAA press release at http://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=11479