The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Test Site (UASTS) a waiver (Waiver No. 44803-7) issued under the authority of Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) 44803(c) for civil (non-public) UAS operations at a 1,000 square mile test site area located north of Reno, ÁùºÏ±¦µä.
“This means ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous and the ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS are open for business for the UAS Industry to efficiently and safely test their new technologies,” Carlos Cardillo, executive director of corporate partnerships at the University and director of the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Center for Applied Research (NCAR), said.
The ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS is operated by ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous in NCAR at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno, under contract with the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
“As a component of the University’s ÁùºÏ±¦µä Center for Applied Research, ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous has been receiving the support of the GOED administered Knowledge Fund,” Tom Burns, executive director for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, said. “This not only underscores ÁùºÏ±¦µä’s dedication to innovation, but also signifies the potential for this industry to make a substantial economic impact within our state.”
The designation as a FAA UAS Test Site was awarded to ÁùºÏ±¦µä in 2013 to help the Federal Aviation Authority assess key UAS research questions and help develop regulations and operational procedures for future commercial and civil use of the NAS.
University President Brian Sandoval, during his tenure as Governor of ÁùºÏ±¦µä from 2011 to 2019, played a significant role in the establishment and development of the ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS. Sandoval's administration actively supported efforts to promote ÁùºÏ±¦µä as an ideal location for UAS testing and development, leveraging the state's expansive airspace, existing aerospace infrastructure, and partnerships with industry stakeholders and academic institutions.
“The continued efforts in the development of the UAS industry by ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous reflects the University’s commitment to fostering innovation, economic diversification and technological advancement in the state,” President Sandoval said. “The University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä is a leading partner in the UAS sector, and it is vital that we continue to work with other industry leaders and federal agencies such as the FAA and Department of Defense.”
Current FAA regulations limit small UAV operations over people and require the drone to remain within visual line of sight of the remote pilot. The recently awarded waiver and associated Certificate of Authorization (COA) enables ÁùºÏ±¦µä UAS Test Site customers under the operational control of ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous to operate drones up to 300 pounds takeoff weight and altitudes up to but not including 18,000 feet above sea level (MSL), depending on which of the four adjacent NV UASTS operating areas shown in the image are being used.
“This waiver will allow our research and development testing to enable more expansive uncrewed flights including larger UAS operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of the remote pilot,” Mark Genung, ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS Operator, said.
This is the first of a series of test sites planned to be approved in ÁùºÏ±¦µä.
“This is extremely great news for ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous and the University and ÁùºÏ±¦µä,” Mridul Gautam, vice president for research and innovation at the University, said. “Thanks to ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous, NCAR personnel and their tireless efforts over the past year, this waiver opens a new opportunity for the ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS to enable aviation companies to come to ÁùºÏ±¦µä and take advantage of the high desert environment, large areas of uncontrolled airspace, and generally favorable aviation weather in Northern ÁùºÏ±¦µä. ÁùºÏ±¦µä Autonomous and the ÁùºÏ±¦µä UASTS will significantly reduce the design-develop-test-redesign-test-verify-final-product cycle time. This is the place to come to test cutting edge, uncrewed aircraft systems, sensors and payloads.”
Partners interested in drone research, development, testing and operations should contact the ÁùºÏ±¦µä Center for Applied Research.
