Autoridades aeroportuárias consideram tornar-se centro de pesquisa de drone

The Potomac Highlands Airport Authority is considering the possibility of becoming a hub for drone testing, research and development.

Authority members voted during their meeting Thursday to set up a meeting with drone experts to discuss the possibility having a place at the airport for the research and development of drones.

“The airport’s role in the community is to do things like this and it happens to be aviation related,” said Gregg Wolff, chairman of the authority. “I think this is great — this is exactly what we have been thinking about all these years.”

The airport manager, economic development directors for both Allegany and Mineral counties and experts on drones from both the state Department of Commerce and Appalachian Regional Commission will be a part of the drone research meeting.

“We may get into a little bit and go, ‘Boy this isn’t going to work or it’s a crazy idea,” said William Atkinson, Appalachian Regional Commission program manager and director of the Maryland Department of Planning’s Western Maryland Regional Office. “There are a lot of unanswered questions at this point.”

Frostburg State University is interested in doing research and development on drones, according to Atkinson.

“Frostburg State has an application in now to look at starting the pilot training and certification,” said Atkinson. “It’s a good time to try and grow this a little bit. Frostburg State University has been trying to buy a drone with their ARC funding for the last probably two years.”

Allegany College of Maryland doesn’t have a pilot training course, according to Jim Pyles, authority member.

There is ARC funding for drone research, according to Atkinson.

The market for the drone industry is expected grow from $11.3 billion in 2015 to $140 billion in 10 years, according to Atkinson.

“It’s one of the fastest growing industries in the United States,” said Atkinson. “Maybe you can grab a piece of this lucrative business that’s starting. I don’t think it’s going away and we do think it’s going to continue to grow.”

The drone hub could potentially be a part of the proposed industrial park that authority included in the Airport Layout Plan.

“I don’t see any reason not to explore this,” said Wolff. “The thing we always get asked when we are out in the community is when is the airline coming back. The reality is there is no reason for the airline to come back here unless the community can support the airport and we build business like this.”

The Federal Aviation Administration does allow Unmanned Aircraft Systems Currently (UAS), also know as a drone, test sites and currently there are six UAS test sites, according to the FAA website. Saint Mary’s County Regional Airport has a UAS test site, according to Terry Page, a consultant with Delta.

Anyone flying a drone at any airport would have to obtain the airport manager’s permission to fly.

“The operator of the drone has to have license just like a pilot’s license,” said Page, who previously worked with the FAA.

 

Fonte: Aviationpros 28/05/2017