The FAA is looking for a few good sites to test unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), signaling that momentum is building toward merging manned and unmanned aircraft in unrestricted airspace.
The agency announced March 7 that it is seeking public comment on the site-selection process in advance of issuing a request for proposals to operate the sites. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, signed into law on February 14, requires the FAA to establish a test program for UAS within six months. The reauthorization bill also sets a deadline for the integration of civil unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System (NAS) “as soon as practicable, but not later than September 30, 2015.” Similarly, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, enacted on December 31, calls on the FAA to establish a test program at six ranges, reflecting the military’s strong interest in opening access to the NAS for unmanned aircraft.
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