Six States Chosen to Test Commercial Drones
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia have been selected to host sites for testing the commercial use of drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia have been selected to host sites for testing the commercial use of drones.
The expressed purpose of the program is to “develop safety and operational rules for drones by the end of 2015,” the BBC reports.
The FAA said in a statement that its decision concludes a 10-month process involving proposals from 24 states. Geography, climate, placement of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, aviation experience and risk were considered for the project.
As the BBC reports, the chosen sites are:
A set of locations proposed by the University of Alaska in seven zones with varying climates, from Hawaii to Oregon
Griffiss International Airport in central New York state will test how to integrate drones into the congested north-east airspace
North Dakota Department of Commerce will test the human impact of drones and also how the aircraft cope in temperate climates
The state of Nevada will concentrate on standards for air traffic and drone operators
Texas A&M University plans to develop safety requirements for drones and testing for airworthiness
Virginia Tech university will research operational and technical areas of risk for drones
Agriculture and law enforcement are expected to make up a majority of the growth in the commercial drone industry. Drones are much cheaper to deploy than helicopters, the BBC said, and can be flown for as little as $25 an hour. The FAA estimates as many as 7,500 drone aircraft could fill the skies in the five years after general airspace access is made legal.
Lawmakers in the selected states were thrilled to be chosen, the BBC reports:
“This is wonderful news for Nevada that creates a huge opportunity for our economy,” said Senator Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada.
An industry-commissioned study predicted more than 70,000 jobs – including drone operators – would develop in the first three years after Congress loosens drone restrictions on US skies.
The same study, conducted by the Teal Group research firm, found that the worldwide commercial drone market could top $89bn in the next decade.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.
At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.
Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.
Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.
Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.
Donate now.
Environment
In a state where the sun can shine all day, the climate milestone could make central Alaska "feel like 110."
Environment
As waters warm, Alaska Native families confront a world without the fish that fed them for generations.
Environment
The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the largest national forest in the United States. We must preserve it.
Environment
Active and proposed mines threaten key salmon watersheds in Alaska and British Columbia.
Scientists say they see no end to the way human-caused climate change is adversely affecting the planet.
Columbus Day is increasingly being replaced by a celebration of indigenous peoples and their central role in our history and in our future.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.