Feds Make Big Move on Drones

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Liz Klimas.

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration announced six states on Monday that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the unmanned aircraft's march into U.S. skies.

The agency said Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia as states that will host research sites.

Drones have been mainly used by the military, but governments, businesses, farmers and others are making plans to join the market. Many universities are starting or expanding drone programs.

A NASA Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

"These test sites will give us valuable information about how best to ensure the safe introduction of this advanced technology into our nation's skies," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.

The FAA said when selecting the sites it considered geography, climate, location of ground infrastructure, research needs, airspace use, aviation experience and risk.

Locations of the six drone testing sites. (Image source: FAA)

In the case of Alaska, the FAA cited a diverse set of test site range locations in seven climatic zones. New York's site at Griffiss International Airport will look into integrating drones into the congested northeast airspace.

his Sept. 2013 file photo shows The Reaper drone, now known as a Global Hawk, at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Federal Aviation Administration announced six states on Monday Dec. 30, 2013, that will develop test sites for drones, a critical next step for the march of the unmanned aircraft into U.S. skies. Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia will host the research sites, the agency said. (AP/ Las Vegas Sun, Richard Velotta, File)

The state of North Dakota already has committed $5 million to the venture and named a former state Air National Guard Commander as its test site director.

The FAA does not allow commercial use of drones, but it is working to develop operational guidelines by the end of 2015, although officials concede the project may take longer than expected. The FAA projects some 7,500 commercial drones could be aloft within five years of getting widespread access to American airspace.

An industry-commissioned study last spring predicted more than 70,000 jobs would develop in the first three years after Congress loosens restrictions on U.S. skies. The same study projects an average salary range for a drone pilot between $85,000 and $115,000.

In this photo provided by Jamey Jacob, John Sievert, left, Emily Rogers, center, and Libin Daniel, engineering students at Oklahoma State University, track an unmanned aerial vehicle on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, at OSU�s unmanned aircraft flight station in Stillwater, Okla. Although the state has an established graduate program at OSU, it was not chosen by the feds as a state to allow testing sites.. (AP/ Oklahoma State University, Jamey Jacob)

"Safety continues to be our first priority as we move forward with integrating unmanned systems into U.S. airspace," FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said in a statement. "We have successfully brought new technology into the nation's aviation system for more than 50 years, and I have no doubt we will do the same with unmanned aircraft."

Associated Press writer Dave Kolpack in Fargo, N.D., contributed to this report. Featured image via Shutterstock.

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