Team deploys unmanned aircraft at public airport (UND Newsletter – 8/11/15: Jan Orvik)

The University has successfully deployed an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) from the Lakota, N.D., airport.

This was the first time UND  has conducted UAS operations from a public general aviation airport.

The flight test was conducted in connection with North Dakota’s Northern Plains Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (NP UAS TS), designated as such by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2014. The aircraft was a Northrup Grumman SandShark.

“This was the first time that we’ve launched a UAS from a public use airport,” said Al Palmer, director of the UND UAS Center of Excellence. ““This was a milestone flight because right now there are no regulations allowing routine UAS flights at U.S. public airports. We are working closely with the FAA to ensure we conduct safe operations under our COA (Certificate of Authorization) at the airport.”

When UND or the NP UAS TS conduct UAS flights for research, they do so under a Certificate of Authorization/Waiver, or COA, issued by the FAA.

“Through this project, we’re helping the FAA develop the concepts of UAS operations at small airports,” Palmer said.

Project manager Doug Olsen, also a member of the UND UAS Center team, said the launch was part of a test project jointly funded by Rockwell Collins and by the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a leading manufacturer of avionics for manned aircraft and is developing unmanned aircraft applications of their technologies.

“Rockwell chose UND to test this new technology because of our UAS and test site capabilities,” Olsen said. “While this first flight was for crew currency and aircraft checks, the nature of the project—our objective—is to eventually fly with new Rockwell Collins radio technology to test how well it works, controlling UAS beyond line of sight.”

Two UND pilots flew this mission; both are students:  Schuyller (Sky) Andrew, aviation major with a focus on UAS, and Whittaker Warrington, same major and focus.

The flight was supervised by Andrew Regenhard, a Remotely Piloted Aircraft research instructor from UND, and by representatives of the NP UAS TS.

About the SandShark
Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman Corp. and UND signed a cooperative agreement to offer UAS pilot training to domestic and global customers using the SandShark, an RPA trainer. The cooperative agreement also encourages development of new technologies for UAS using the Sandshark.