Captain Sully display at US Airways Headquarters in Tempe, AZ. http://t.co/aG6B0nuR
CHO Airport Blog
Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Commercial Service?
An interesting subject was discussed in the recent FAA forecast, the future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). What started as remote control planes on steroids has grown to fully autonomous systems for commercial applications. Able to perform tasks with less noise and fewer emissions than manned aircraft, The FAA states that there are now at least 100 U.S. groups developing over 300 UAS designs. The first civilian drones you may see flying over the Blue Ridge Mountains will probably be employed in real estate photography and aerial inspections. The FAA expects that once the regulatory structure is in place, a viable fleet will develop. Within the next 5 years the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) fleet is expected to grow to 10,000. In ten years, the fleet is projected to increase to 25,000 and 30,000 in 2030. The FAA also notes that with the safe integration of the UAS into the National Airspace system, both civil and commercial applications will develop and UAS have the potential to become a major component of commercial aviation within the United States. How far do you believe we should go with unmanned aircraft systems in civilian aviation? Should we fly the robot-friendly skies?