The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA and their\npartners in a pilot program that is laying the groundwork for an Unmanned\nAircraft Systems (UAS) traffic management system successfully demonstrated how such\na system can work in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demonstrations, conducted at three separate test sites\nselected by the FAA for the UAS Traffic Management Pilot Program (UPP), showed\nthat multiple, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations can be\nsafely conducted at low altitudes (below 400 feet) in airspace where FAA air\ntraffic services are not provided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As demand for low altitude drone use increases, the FAA,\nNASA and the UPP partners are working together to accommodate these operations\nsafely and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In January, the FAA selected three UPP test sites: the Mid\nAtlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP) at Virginia Tech, the Northern Plains UAS\nTest Site (NPUASTS) in Grand Forks, N.D., and the Nevada Institute for\nAutonomous Systems (NIAS) in Las Vegas, Nev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first demonstration, which involved the Mid-Atlantic\nAviation Partnership (MAAP), took place at Virginia Tech on June 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the demonstration, separate drone flights delivered\npackages, studied wildlife, surveyed a corn field and covered a court case for\nTV. Because the flights were near an airport, all four flight plans were\nsubmitted through a service supplier and received approval to launch as\nplanned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While these flights were being conducted, an emergency\nhelicopter needed to quickly transport a car crash victim to a hospital. The\nhelicopter pilot submitted a request for a UAS Volume Reservation (UVR)an alert\nused to notify nearby drone operators of the emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deliveries were re-routed until the UVR was\ncompleted. The wildlife study, field\nsurvey and court coverage continued safely away from the helicopter\u2019s path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each operation was conducted without conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second demonstration, which involved the Northern Plains\nUAS Test Site (NPUASTS), took place in Grand Forks on July 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the demonstration, which occurred near an airport, a\nphotographer and Part 107 drone operator took photos of firefighter training.\nAn aviation student at the University of North Dakota used a drone to scan for\nthe best tailgating location. Another Part 107 operator, employed at the\nelectric company, used a drone to assess power line damage after recent strong\nwinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two Part 107 operators submitted flight plans due to\ntheir proximity to an airport, receiving proper approvals. During their\nflights, they received a UVR alert that a medevac helicopter was transporting a\npatient to the hospital from the firefighter training area. The operator taking\nphotos of the training landed the drone before the UVR notice became active.\nThe power line survey and the flight over the tailgate area continued at a safe\ndistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The third, which involved the Nevada Institute for\nAutonomous Systems (NIAS), took place in Las Vegas on August 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the demonstration, separate UAS flights were\nconducted to survey a golf course before a tournament, get video footage of a\nproperty being sold, and scan a nearby lake for boating opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All three operators accessed UAS Facility Maps and worked\nwith a UAS Service Supplier (USS) to receive the proper approvals to conduct\ntheir flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fire erupted at one of the golf course clubhouses. First\nresponders sent a helicopter to contain the fire. They submitted a request to a\nUSS to create a UVR. The UVR information is also shared with the FAA. The FAA\nshares the information with public portals, notifying each of the UAS operators\nthat the firefighting helicopter was on its way to their flying area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each of the UAS operators, being properly notified, were\nable to either land or continue their operations at a safe distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The UPP was established in April 2017 as an important\ncomponent for identifying the initial set of industry and FAA capabilities\nrequired to support UAS Traffic Management operations. The analysis of results\nfrom the demonstrations will provide an understanding of the level of\ninvestment required for each stakeholder’s implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results from the UPP will provide a proof of concept for\nUAS Traffic Management capabilities currently in research and development, and\nwill provide the basis for initial deployment of UTM capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n