drone

US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft systems (UAS) have approved the night-flight testing of unmanned drones across North Dakota.

Approved under the FAA’s Certification of Authorization (COA) process, the consent gives sufficient access to airspace and aims to encourage industry firms into collaborative research.

The FAA evaluated the safety and operational processes used by the Northern Plains UAS test site prior to the approval.

Northern Plains UAS test site executive director Robert Becklund said: "The addition of night flying opens up the opportunities for industry partners to test sensor payloads in all lighting conditions."

"The addition of night flying opens up the opportunities for industry partners to test sensor payloads in all lighting conditions." 

A COA has been agreed for the test site, which allows flights at altitudes higher than 200ft more than other FAA-approved test sites.

With this authorisation, North Dakota has become the first test site to include airspace above 200ft for UAS testing.

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North Dakota Department of Commerce said in a statement: "The FAA recognises the industry’s needs for safe and efficient access to the NAS to conduct the aeronautical research needed to safely integrate UAS, ultimately enabling commercialisation of their services.

"This Northern Plains UAS test site COA demonstrates the FAA’s commitment to the UAS industry, as well as the capabilities of the Northern Plains UAS test site."

Unmanned aircraft feature various sensors, including video cameras, thermal cameras and other technologies, that collect data for a wide range of industries to aid crop analysis efforts, inspect buildings, and search for missing persons.

Image: An unmanned aircraft system. Photo: courtesy of Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.