FAA Opens Up Airspace Access at North Dakota Test Site
About the Northern Plains UAS Test Site.
The Federal Aviation Administration granted two certificates of authorization to allow the unmanned aircraft systems industry access to a large part of northeastern North Dakota as part of the Northern Plains UAS test site.
This will provide the industry more opportunities for collaborative research and the FAA with the operational data needed to integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace system.
“This is a perfect example of how we, working together with the FAA, have made North Dakota a premier location for industry to conduct research related to UAS,” says Executive Director of the Northern Plains UAS test site Robert Becklund.
The FAA was able to approve the COAs because of the maturity, demonstrated safety and operational processes used by the test site and plans to soon approve two more COAs that will open up missions to about two-thirds of the state.
“Opening up more airspace for UAS testing is a positive step both for North Dakota and the future of UAS technology,” says AUVSI CEO Brian Wynne. “This expanded airspace will help facilitate research critical to the integration of UAS into the National Airspace System and unlock the full societal and economic benefits of this technology.”
The FAA has approved five different types of UAS to fly in North Dakota and will allow the site to add additional models through a streamlined process that will likely involve an on-site designated airworthiness representative with authority from the FAA to complete UAS special airworthiness certificates.
The newly defined areas of operation will follow the existing notification process, which includes use of the notice to airmen system, community outreach and direct scheduling with local airspace users, according to a North Dakota Department of Commerce press release.
The North Plains UAS test site was the first congressionally mandated, FAA-approved UAS test site to become operational on April 21, 2014 and will follow the Nevada test site in the expedited approval process. Nevada’s DAR made its first approval, an experimental category UAS, on Dec. 18, 2014.
