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This Episode: At the end of December, the FAA announced the six congressionally-mandated UAS research and test sites that are a key part of the U.S. roadmap integrating UAS into the national airspace. These sites, operated by public entities, will perform research, and develop operational experience and needed technologies. FAA selected Six Drone Testing Sites The Sites: The University of Alaska Geography: seven climatic zones, and locations in Hawaii and Oregon. Mission: standards for unmanned aircraft categories, state monitoring and navigation, safety standards for UAS operations. University of Alaska, Frontier Scientists, Alaska’s Unmanned Aircraft Research Drone test sites spell opportunity for companies Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) State of Nevada Geography: geographic and climatic diversity. Mission: UAS standards and operations, operator standards, certification requirements. Also, how air traffic control procedures will evolve with the introduction of UAS into the civil environment, integration with NextGen. Nevada Selected as UAV Development Center Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) New York’s Griffiss International Airport Geography: The congested, northeast airspace. Mission: Test and evaluation, verification and validation processes under FAA safety oversight. Sense and avoid capabilities for UAS. Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance North Dakota Department of Commerce Geography: Temperate (continental) climate zone Mission: UAS airworthiness essential data, validate high reliability link technology, human factors research. (Local officials are hoping to also look specifically into agricultural applications.) UND Aerospace, Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Research North Dakota Pitches Itself As a Utopia for Drones FAA Selects Grand Forks to Be UAS Test Site Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Geography: geographic and climactic diversity. Mission: System safety requirements for UAS vehicles and operations, protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing. FAA accepts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s unmanned aircraft test site proposal The Vehicle Systems & Control Laboratory Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) Geography: locations in Virginia and New Jersey. Mission: UAS failure mode testing, operational and technical risks areas. Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems (VaCAS)