The US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommitte on Oversight is set to conduct a hearing, to examine the challenges of safely integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS).
Titled ”Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System: Assessing Research and Development Efforts to Ensure Safety”, the hearing will also evaluate federal research and development (R&D) efforts required to ensure safe and efficient operation of UAS in the NAS.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The hearing is scheduled to be attended by the representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Nasa and the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) president and CEO Michael Toscano said the UAS have potential applications in search and rescue missions, in addition to advancing scientific research and responses to natural disasters, among other operations.
"The sooner we can responsibly integrate unmanned aircraft into the national airspace, the sooner we can use this technology to do dangerous and difficult jobs safely and efficiently," Toscano added.
Unmanned aircraft platforms are currently used by the military, federal, state and local government organisations for surveillance, border patrol, scientific research and environmental monitoring, as well as public safety missions worldwide.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataUS Congress had authorised the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 early last year to facilitate UAS integration into civilian airspace to further expand their applications.
UAS platforms are currently flown with a chase aircraft or a ground observer during day time in the NAS, so as to avoid mid-air collisions with other manned aircraft, which makes the operations costly.
The FAA is currently conducting selection of six test ranges to evaluate procedures for safe UAS integration into the NAS by September 2015.
The sites were originally expected to have been selected by the end of 2012, but the process was delayed by the FAA due to privacy and safety concerns.
Image: MQ-9 Reaper UAS conducting a surveillance mission. Photo courtesy of US Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson.
