The initial step in the process of overseeing introductionof unmanned aircraft in the nation's skies was announced this week by theFederal Aviation Administration, which is soliciting public comments on thetesting of drones that could be used for a range of "eye in the sky"applications.
In response to a legislative provision in a billreauthorizing the FAA, the agency has launched a comment period as it selectssix test sites to evaluate unmanned aircraft systems. The focus of theproceeding will be determining the location of the test sites along withestablishing safety standards and integrating unmanned aircraft into thenation's airspace, the FAA said.
The FAA test sites will chiefly determine the altitudes atwhich drones will fly so they will not interfere with commercial air traffic aswell as developing certification standards for the pilotless vehicles.
Unmanned aircraft could begin taking off in the US as earlyas 2015.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said unmanned aircraftcould be used for a range of new applications like spotting wild fires. Butcritics worry that law enforcement agencies could use drones for unauthorizedsurveillance.
Industry groups praised the FAA initiative. "Unmannedaircraft will be the next big revolution in the aerospace industry, and thecreation of these test sites will mark the beginning of what will one day be acommon occurrence: manned and unmanned aircraft safely flying together in thesame airspace," Michael Toscano, president of the Association of UnmannedVehicle Systems International (Arlington, Va.), said in a statement.
This story was originally posted by EETimes.