The document discusses the establishment of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites, including the UAS Flight Test Center (FTC) at New Mexico State University (NMSU). It provides an overview of NMSU's facilities, expertise, and experience operating UAS. NMSU has over 8 years of operational experience and currently holds four certificates of authorization from the FAA. The document argues that NMSU is well-suited to be one of the FAA's new six UAS test sites given its location, airspace, and ability to collect and analyze flight data to help develop standards and regulations.

1. The UAS FTC & Six
New UAS Sites
SUSB Expo
8 May 2014
San Francisco, CA
Presented by:
Doug Marshall

2. Why A Test Center? Why NMSU?
110
• UAS are Different
– Manned Aircraft under testing and
development can comply with 14
CFR Part 91
– Private Industry needs a place to do
basic Research and Development
• Many are not ready for the
FAA Experimental
Certification process
• Not just for
aircraft…..payloads
– UAS are still very immature
• Experience with UAS
– Foundational SOP’s in place and exercised
– Ability to collect and process significant data
– Solid and credible safety record
• Over 8 years operational experience
– Experienced UAS personnel
• Location –
– “It’s not the end of the world, but you can see
it from there…..”
– Very sparsely populated
– Low density Air Traffic
– Climate is favorable
• Establishing a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA)
– Outlines the risk management process similar to that being applied by FAA today
• FAA will require data on a routine basis
• NMSU is a Public Organization and thus qualifies for a COA
– All testing/R&D is conducted as directed by FAA under the COA
• Provides for a controlled testing environment while minimizing impact to other NAS users as well as
people/property on the ground
How?
TAAC 2013 Federal Aviation
Administration

3. UAS Flight Test Center (FTC)
• FTC relevant to all classes of UAS
• FAA-approved process to:
– Assess system capabilities
– Identify and mitigate risks
– Establish operating limits tailored to
111
UAS capabilities
• Collect and archive data for the FAA
– System and component information
– Flight performance
– Will assist in development of UAS standards and regulations

4. 112
Southwest New Mexico Airspace
• Excellent year-round
flying conditions
• Uncongested airspace
• Highly varied terrain
• Military airspace
adjacent and slightly
smaller than
Connecticut –
7,105 square miles
• USAF air traffic
control from “surface
to space”

5. 113
PSL UAS Research Activities

6. 114

7. 115

8. 116

9. Airworthiness Certification
Provisions
• Unmanned aircraft must be shown to be airworthy to conduct
flight operations in the national airspace system
• Public Use Aircraft applications must include:
– A civil airworthiness certification from the FAA, or
– A statement specifying certification method:
• DoD Handbook or equivalent method of certification
★ NMSU’s Airworthiness Process is accepted
by the FAA and is being used for the FAA’s new
6 Test sites.
117

10. Expertise/Experience
• 16 years operating UAS in the NAS (non-segregated airspace)
• Special-use airspace experts (NAS High Altitude Ballooning
Program)
• UAS experience
– Four current COAs (3 NM, 1 Alabama, & 1 in process for Colorado)
– Assisted DoD with initial domestic and overseas Global Hawk flights;
Altair in 2004 from SOCAL to AK and return for Coast Guard
demonstration
• Three classes of UAS (tactical, medium, and small) that are
used for RDT&E
• International Airspace Coordination
• Developing and Validating Civil UAS mission sets for FAA
118

11. UAS Operations
• Routinely conduct UAS operations in the NAS
– Aerostar B (24 –foot wingspan)
– Aerolight (12-foot wingspan)
– Orbiter (8-foot wingspan)
– Other UAS platforms and trainers
– Chase aircraft owned and operated by NMSU
• Work with DoD on a variety of UAS-related functions
– Developing and validating procedures for safe flight of UAS in NAS
– Sense (see) and avoid testing (ground and airborne)
– Anti-jam capabilities
– Specialized testing, including anti-IED
• Developing and Validating Civil UAS Mission sets for FAA
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12. Airports Available to FTC
120
Jornada Airstrip
Shoestring Ranch
Waids Airstrip
Other Airports and Unimproved
Airstrips
Las Cruces Lordsburg
Grant
County
Socorro Deming
T or C
Playas

13. How NMSU/TAAC Can Help
• Assist in determining specific requirements to meet specific
operational needs
– Develop plans and roadmaps
– Develop CONOPS, including policies and procedures
• Provide flight crew training and certifications
• Assist in establishing airworthiness and acceptable criteria and
standards for UAS systems
• Evaluate candidate systems for airworthiness, operational
appropriateness for requirements
• Perform research and assist in development of policies for use of
UAS, such as night operations
• Perform flight testing and demonstrations, including payloads
• Provide secure facilities/personnel with security clearances
121

14. 122
Historical Efforts-UAS in NAS
Access 5
Small UAS ARC 1
FAA UAPO (Crawl – Walk – Run)
NMSU UAS FTC
XCOM
UASIO
Small UAS ARC 2
FAA Regulatory Reviews
Many Technical, Design, , and Operations Efforts
Unfocused Research, including individual advances
Federal Judge Ruling

15. 123
ISSUES Being Addressed
• FAA UAS in the NAS
– Safety of Flight
– Technology Cert
– FAA Regulations/Policy
• Civil vs Public
– Who can Fly – Requirements
– For What Purpose
– Where – How - When

16. 124
Government or Civil Use of UAS
Pipelines, Electric, Oil, Agriculture, Storm Damage

17. 125
UAS TOOL - Right Tool for the Right Job
Hornet Maxi
Aerostar
Aeryon Scout
Predator

18. 126
Path Forward
FAA Works Policy and NAS Procedures
Regulations - Approves Standards
Oversees Safety
UAS FTC & UAS Test Sites (Independent Body)
-Address community needs
-Provide test findings to guide standards
-Central Community Group
Community
Research – New Technology – Feedback

19. 127
Safety of Flight
Mode S
Transponder
See and Avoid
Avoid
Aircraft Radar
Visual Observer
Sagetech Mode S
Transponder
Safety Must
Remain the Focus!
Integration of
Technology &
Procedures

20. 128
Questions?

21. 129
FTC Point of Contact
Dennis Zaklan
Deputy Director, NMSU UAS Flight Test
Center
(575) 646-9417
575-635-1030
dzaklan@psl.nmsu.edu