Finally, here is an article on the BURRO UAS.
(March 2006)
With little fanfare, a significant change has taken place within the FAA. Kenneth D. "Doug" Davis has been promoted and tasked to create and fully populate a new organizational branch chartered to guide the safe integration of UASs in the NAS. This branch replaces the ad hoc Headquarters Working Group comprised of Hank Cabler, John Timmerman, Davis and headed by Tony Fazio the head of the FAA's Office of Rulemaking. This is a significant and welcome development. Mr. Davis, a 27 year FAA veteran, and former an Assistant Branch Manager of the Certification Branch (AIR) is well equiped and fully authorized to proceed.
The House Committee on Transportation and Aviation’s Aviation Subcommittee held hearings on March 30, 2006. Among the notable testimony was the that of the AOPA which was direct in its call for a go slow approach out of concerns for safety and in its (constructive) criticism of the FAA’s lack of progress in the UAS area, the UAV National Industry Team (UNITE) which represents the interests of the large UAV Aerospace Prime contractors, and Professor Rob Owen of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University who articulates a clear vision of UAS commercial flight opportunities in the NAS. UNITE lamented the demise of Access5 and called for industry government cooperation to advance the introduction of HALE and MALE airframes into the NAS. Professor Owen briefed a slightly different vision focused on smaller UAS platforms driving the new UAS commercial market and highlighted the “Barriers to UAV flight” in the NAS. He specifically called for creating the position of a federal Knowledge Manager, to act as in Clearing House of UAS Data, a funding grant/contract supervisor and honest broker of information – in essence an Ombudsman to shepherd the industry development and focus national priorities. Owen also called for the formation of a UAS Tiger Team. Other contributors to the dialog made the testimony a significant event and which could become a tipping point on many fronts. UAVM has posted its own hit list of "Barriers to commercial UAS flight".
The ambitious J-UCAS, DARPA sponsored program was cancelled with little fanfare. Elements of the program will be absorbed into ongoing projects. Coupled with the recent demise of Access5 it is timely the Aviation subcommittee testimony was held. Janes Defense has identified a new secret UAS through budget analysis. The USAF has released its Strategic Vision for UAS and RPAs.
AOPA has forced the FAA to kill Gaston County plans to use the CyberBug UAS for ISR duty.
Frost and Sullivan forecast for the US UAV market is to grow to exceed $17 billion (USD) within five years (order report here). General Atomics Chairman Neal Blue is optimistic about the UAV market and the Aeronautical Systems Predator classes for serving commercial as well as military markets.
UNITE has elected AeroVironment’s Kevin Smedley to become President of UNITE. The EASA has called for an airspace rules coordinating body to oversee the integration of UASs into the European NAS.
A conference was held in North Dakota (Red River Valley Research Corridor), sponsored by Senator Byron Dorgan, to commemorate the designation of Grand Forks AFB and The University of North Dakota as UAS centers of excellence. UAV MarketSpace’s Regulatory Survey was used as a primer for the conference.
In late January the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk was awarded the first Military Airworthiness Certificate for flight certification. The Global Hawk Advanced technology demonstrator, which was scheduled for no more that 300 flight hours which was pressed into service for Iraq and Afghanistan duty, arrived home after over 4,800 flight hours for decommissioning. Following this the GAO has released a report calling for a temporary halt to Global Hawk. The DoD has no intention of complying without resistance.
In other industry news BAE, the fourth largest Aerospace conglomerate, may be interested in acquiring L3 arguably the fastest growing company in the US and a company that controls access to several key technologies for UASs in addition to the BAI UAS subsidiary. Jay Willmott, the BAI Executive Vice President who has been instrumental in the growth of the industry has announced his retirement however Jay intends to stay connected and contribute when and where he can to the industry.
In the UK Qinetiq is calling for civil UAS flight demonstrations at ParcAberporth for demonstrating sensors and platforms. Qinetiq has also announced a new robust high performance antenna. C3 data link stability is one technology barrier to UAS flight that concerns the FAA re flight in the NAS.
The Raven has defeated the L3-BAI Evolution for a production contract to become the Army’s next generation back pack-able portable next generation Small UAV. In cases like this where both platforms have high capability it is a difficult choice. The Evolution has great potential for commercial (civil) applications.
The InSitu Group’s (Boeing) Scan Eagle has surpassed over 10,000 flight hours . AAI's Shadow system has achieved a significant flight hours milestone.
Asian aerospace industry highlights plans for expansion into world UAS markets.
A new pre-announcement for a contract to integrate the Sandia MiniSAR into a UAS airframe is noteworthy. The Sandia MiniSAR is a 14 lb unit (25 lb mounted on a gimbal) that has potential as a DSA for deconflicting small UAS platforms. AVID has announced a creative flying wing UAS system that can deploy a mini UAS capable of hovering over an ISR target.
Finally a design competition was announced for students to participate in creating ideas for a UAS to fly over MARS.
Things are humming along and picking up momentum.
(February 2006)
Unfortunately, Access5 is history. The final briefing was conducted in Washington, DC to about 80 industry attendees. (see Access5 page for details)
Lockheed Martin has donated UAVs to the University of North Dakota, a school that has announced plans to create a Center of Excellence for UAV use for commercial missions.
The struggle between the FAA and AOPA over TFR's for UAV flight that restricts airspace used for general aviation continues with AOPA gaining traction. AOPA also co-chairs the RTCA SC-203 committee creating MASPS for UAV flight in the NAS.
(January 2006)
The Aircraft Pilots and Owners Association (AOPA) started the drumroll in late December 2005, by somewhat surprisingly pointing out to the Ranking Member of the Congressional Homeland Security oversight committee, that the economics (read cost) of flying UAVs for border patrol duty didn't favorable compare to flying a piloted Cessna. It continues this month with complaints about the year long TFR the FAA has implemented along the Arizona border near Nogales to accommodate Border Patrol UAV flight. The AOPA VP Regulatory Affairs Counsel, Melissa Rudinger is meeting with the FAA, DHS and other Administration Officials this week (Jan 9) to voice opposition to the TFR and describe the problems a TFR presents to AOPA member General Aviation pilot members. Given the Bush Administrations public dismay re UAV Border Patrol flight (What is Taking so Long?) this would appear to be a losing battle. One can understand the AOPA objection to the TFR, however the economic arguments appear to be rooted in jobs issues.
In a separate note, some folks in the Civil Air Patrol, appear able to contain its enthusiasm for UAV integration into the NAS.
In reality UAVs are here to stay because the benefits and ultimate economics are compelling, however resistance and hostility from vested interests will be a natural state and will grow initially as the industry begins to attain traction.
Industry Notes: Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) has notified the industry of its intent to develop a HALE UAV to compete with the Northrop Grumman Global Hawk. BAI-L3 will present its vision of a new TUAV, the Viking 400 at the TTCUS meeting in Washington in March.
A new section was recently added to UAVM.com on the Missile Technology Control Regime (MCTR), the single most important impediment to industry growth for HALE and MALE UAVs.In other news, Yamaha Motor corporate offices were raided because of suspected sales of the RMAX L181 R/C vtol UAVs to Beijing in violation of law. Export restrictions of this type result in an additional chilling effect on industry growth.
The USAF has taken its first delivery of production Global Hawks. The AV3, a prototype concept demonstrator, initially scheduled for 300 hours of flight service, was finally retired after 7,000 flight hours (5000 combat hours).
Flight International reports that European UAV vendors are encouraged to unite and work together in order to overcome a percieved advantage of the United States in the area of remote sensor technologies.
(December, 2005)
Bell Helicopter, a unit of Textron Inc. announced that its Eagle Eye TR918 Unmanned Aircraft System, or UAS, has received it's certificate of airworthiness for experimental flight testing from the Federal Aviation Administration. This certification represents the first certificate of airworthiness for experimental flight-testing ever issued by the FAA to a vertical lift UAS.
The FAA has temporarily blocked the further deployment of a recently purchased Predator B intended for Border Patrol duty along the Arizona Border.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), in collaboration with BAI Aerosystems, a L-3 Communications subsidiary, demonstrated an unmanned aerial system (UAS) flight solely powered by fuel cell technology. The flight of the 5.6-pound 'Spider-Lion" lasted 3 hours, 19 minutes and consumed 15-grams of compressed hydrogen gas. NRL has a target for durations of up to 8 hours for an Evolution sized UAS for fuel cell operation.
(November, 2005)
The Shephard Group?s UVNA 2005 moderated by Major General (Ret'd) Ken Israel, VP Lockheed Martin IS&S and former Commander of DARO. Focused mainly on military UAV applications and developments several important items related to commercial (civil) UAV markets were presented. A separate report is filed on this website.
UAVM has authored a report for RF Globalnet, a principle sponsor of UAVM.com, discussing the Introduction of UAVs into the United States National Airspace System and the Regulatory Picture. In it two major new developments are reported that affect the civil UAV markets.
1. Language in HR 2862, the current appropriations bill that defines NASA funding for 2007, and recently reported out of conference, if adopted as final, would eliminate further funding for Access 5 retroactive to 2006, and would require a final report as early as February 2006.
2. The FAA is considering adopting the European model governing small, lightweight UAVs (150kg/330lbs) by issuing separate regulations in the form of Guidance. The target date for the first Guidance is February ? March 2006.
These are very significant developments. Domestically we have one formal organization chartered to facilitate introduction of UAVs into the NAS and Congress is about to eliminate future funding prior to project completion. Not a good idea. The move, contemplated by the FAA in item two, is a very good idea and it will accelerate the adoption cycle using UAVs for domestic civil commercial application markets dramatically if adopted.
The EASA has released its A-NPA, in draft form addressing regulating the introduction of UAVs into the European NAS. This is important because the FAA is coordinating its UAV strategy for regulations closely with the UK and EASA.
(October 11, 2005)
NASA announces the successful test of a modified sailplane UAV to automatically sense and ride thermals at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in the Mojave Desert resulting in extending flight duration times.
(October 6, 2005)
Optical Alchemy announces a newly configured ultra light KJ-600 series of miniaturized optical sensors integrated into a payload package small enough for UAVs in the size range between the Shadow and Dragon Eye size range. This sensor payload package is of interest to end users for both military and civil UAV applications.
(October 5, 2005)
Business Wire (October 4, 2005) - Intellitech Microsystems Steve Fujikawa has announced that Intellitech's Vector P recently completed a series of precision agricultural tests and that "We are delighted with the outcome of this initial test, which demonstrates the full effectiveness and value of the Vector P in determining the underlying causes of poor plant growth and pinpointing the need for fertilizer and pesticide application at an extremely high level of resolution and accuracy. We believe that this new tool will help farm operators and precision agricultural consultants across the country reduce chemical usage, saving millions of dollars while mitigating environmental damage due to runoff. This is particularly important in these times of increasing petrochemical costs."
(October 3, 2005)
UVOnline.com reports that General Atomics and the US Customs and Border Patrol announce the first procurement of a Predator B for duty patrolling the United States - Mexico border. The Predator B will operate out of Fort Huachuca, AZ near Tucson.
(September 31, 2005)
UVOnline.com reports the General Atomics Predator MQ-1 is now capable of flying multi vehicle sorties (two and four UAVs flying simultaneously out of Creech AFB, using only one pilot ) using the Multi Aircraft Control System.
Flight International reports that the FAA has granted General Atomics the First COA for "file and fly" operations in the USNAS for the Altair UAV. This is a major step forward toward realizing the goal of ubiquitous use of UAVs for civil applications.
(September 2005)
The Federal Aviation Administration has released a UAV Fact Sheet. This document is the latest and most general official acknowledgement, and description of, the evaluation criteria for the COA approval process and the Airworthiness Certification status publicly provided for the US NAS. Further, the FAA is officially "gearing up" for an anticipated increase in applications for COAs.
(August 2005)
The Office of the Secretary of Defense has released its Unmanned Aerial Systems Roadmap 2005-2030 for integration of UAVs into the US NAS. If you have interest in military UAVs this is THE place to start.
