FAA test sites
On December 30, 2013, the FAA announced six UAS test sites:
- University
of Alaska: develop standards for
unmanned aircraft categories, state monitoring and navigation; develop safety
standards for operations
- State
of Nevada: develop UAS standards for
operations and operators; evaluate air traffic control procedures for
integration of UAS into the NAS and NextGen
- New
York’s Griffiss International Airport: develop testing, evaluation, verification, and
validation processes for FAA safety oversight; conduct research on sense and
avoid capabilities
- North
Dakota Department of Commerce: develop UAS airworthiness essential data and validate high
reliability link technology; conduct human factors research
- Texas
A&M University – Corpus Christi: develop system safety requirements for UAS vehicles and
operations, including protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing
- Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech):conduct UAS failure mode testing; identify and
evaluate operational and technical risk areas
Each test site operator will manage the use and scheduling of
the test site so as to give access to parties interested in using the site.
