As you know, NAAA has been working with Mississippi State University’s (MSU’s) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory (RFRL) to help determine when and where UAVs can operate safely with other aircraft operating at low altitudes, and released
a letter calling on all operators to submit their GPS logs to the RFRL so they can work with FAA to develop regulations to keep agricultural aviators safe from UAVs in those areas where ag aviators are known to fly.
Many of you reached out to NAAA to let us know that the upload capacity on the RFRL website was not enough for you to upload all your data. Accordingly, RFRL has increased its capacity to 1GB to make it easier to upload your data logs.
NAAA and RFRL have also been alerted that some operators prefer to mail thumb drives of data than to upload the data online. So, if it's easier for you, we'd like to invite you to send your data via mail to:
Raspet Flight Research Laboratory
Attn: Madison Dixon
114 Airport Drive
Starkville, MS 39759
The RFRL is collecting data from operators on when and where low-level aviators fly to determine when and where UAVs can and cannot operate safely at low altitudes. NAAA is asking you to help show them where UAVs shouldn’t fly, or where UAVs should have higher safety standards, by providing your GPS logs so they can map areas that pose the greatest risk to manned aircraft.
The RFRL will use your GPS logs to craft recommendations to inform policy for drone use and make our airspace safer for everyone—including ag aviators. But they can only do this if they have your GPS logs.
This project has been sanctioned by NAAA staff and the NAAA Government Relations Committee, both of which strongly believe this will benefit ag aviators nationwide.
Thanks to those of you who have already uploaded your GPS logs to RFRL’s secure website. NAAA is looking forward to seeing how RFRL uses that data to improve safety for manned and unmanned aircraft alike.
