The Air Force Research Laboratory is establishing an unmanned aerial vehicle test site within one hour of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, after receiving a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration. AFRL and the Ohio Department of Transportation are jointly operating SkyVision, a new technology that allows for safe and accurate operation of UASs, enabling in-flight detection and avoidance thanks to radar feeds, according to a recent news release. Because of the SkyVision capability, the FAA granted AFRL the waiver so the lab could test defense-related UAS technologies without relying on ground-based spotters or chase aircraft. Over time, officials said, the FAA will allow UAS test flights to take place at altitudes ranging from 1,000 feet above ground to 10,000 feet above sea level. The development is seen as a breakthrough in efforts to integrate remotely piloted aircraft into the national airspace system. Read more at AF.mil.
Air Force Gets FAA Waiver for Drone Research
