The sixth and final unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test site
hosted by Blacksburg-based Virginia Tech was declared operational by the
FAA Aug. 13.
The FAA granted Virginia Tech seven Certificates of Waiver
or Authorization (COAs) for two-years enabling UAS to operate within certain
areas within the test site under certain parameters. UAS models that will be
tested include the Smart Road Flyer, eSPAARO, Aeryon Sky Ranger, MANTRA2, Sig
Rascal, and two AVID EDF-8 micro UASs.
UAS operations will occur at test areas in Virginia, New
Jersey and Maryland, although the FAA has not released specific locations.
Research in the three states will eventually include agricultural spray
equipment testing, development of aeronautical procedures for integration of
UAS flights in a towered airspace and developing training and operational
procedures for aeronautical surveys of agriculture.
The FAA selected six congressionally-mandated test sites on
December 30, 2013. The agency is working
with the test sites to guide their research programs to help the FAA safely
integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years. The
Agency plans to release a rule permitting operation of small UAS within the
National Airspace System by November, 2014.
 test site hosted by Charlottesville-based Virginia Tech was declared operational by the FAA Aug. 13.){kind=small}
