Regulatory Alert:FAA Releases Details on the Airport UAS Detection and Mitigation Research Program
August 21, 2020
This afternoon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released details on the agency's "Airport UAS Detection and Mitigation Research Program" and issued a request for white papers to identify eligible manufacturers, vendors, and integrators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) detection and/or mitigation technologies and systems to participate in the research effort. Under the program, FAA announced that it plans to evaluate at least ten UAS detection and/or mitigation systems at Atlantic City International Airport beginning later this year and at four other airports as early as January 2021.
Airport operators that are interested in participating in this testing should familiarize themselves with today's request for white papers to gain a better understanding of the details of the program. FAA has informed AAAE that the solicitation for airport operators looking to host UAS detection and mitigation system testing should be released within the next two weeks. Airports are expected to then have 45 days to respond to the solicitation. Testing will begin at Atlantic City International Airport, where the FAA Technical Center is located, before moving to the four additional airports.
Background. Section 383 of the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill requires FAA to test and evaluate UAS detection and mitigation technologies that detect and mitigate potential risks posed by UAS. FAA is specifically required to carry out this research at five different airports and must also work with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, to ensure that these systems do not adversely impact or interfere with airport operations or other air navigational facilities in the national airspace. This research program is a key step in developing standards to guide which systems can be approved by FAA for safe use in an airport environment.
Research Program Highlights. While today's solicitation is directed at system manufacturers and vendors, the document provides more details about how the testing program will occur at the five airports participating in the program. Below are highlights from AAAE's review.
This afternoon the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released details on the agency's "Airport UAS Detection and Mitigation Research Program" and issued a request for white papers to identify eligible manufacturers, vendors, and integrators of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) detection and/or mitigation technologies and systems to participate in the research effort. Under the program, FAA announced that it plans to evaluate at least ten UAS detection and/or mitigation systems at Atlantic City International Airport beginning later this year and at four other airports as early as January 2021.
Airport operators that are interested in participating in this testing should familiarize themselves with today's request for white papers to gain a better understanding of the details of the program. FAA has informed AAAE that the solicitation for airport operators looking to host UAS detection and mitigation system testing should be released within the next two weeks. Airports are expected to then have 45 days to respond to the solicitation. Testing will begin at Atlantic City International Airport, where the FAA Technical Center is located, before moving to the four additional airports.
Background. Section 383 of the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill requires FAA to test and evaluate UAS detection and mitigation technologies that detect and mitigate potential risks posed by UAS. FAA is specifically required to carry out this research at five different airports and must also work with other federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, to ensure that these systems do not adversely impact or interfere with airport operations or other air navigational facilities in the national airspace. This research program is a key step in developing standards to guide which systems can be approved by FAA for safe use in an airport environment.
Research Program Highlights. While today's solicitation is directed at system manufacturers and vendors, the document provides more details about how the testing program will occur at the five airports participating in the program. Below are highlights from AAAE's review.
- Systems to Be Tested. FAA intends to evaluate at least ten systems that have the ability to detect and/or mitigate UAS in an airport environment. Mitigation testing will occur, either as a standalone system or in conjunction with detection capabilities. The selected manufacturer or vendor will be responsible for supplying and installing the system at a designated airport.
- Where Systems Will Be Tested. Each system selected will be evaluated at Atlantic City International Airport at the Technical Center and then at one additional airport. Each system must meet certain performance criteria before being permitted to "graduate" and be installed at an additional airport. FAA did leave open the possibility that a system could be installed at more than one airport aside from Atlantic City International.
- FAA Will Conduct Testing. FAA notes that neither the system manufacturer/vendor nor the host airport operator will be permitted to operate the system during the testing and evaluation. However, the manufacturer/vendor will be required to train FAA personnel on how to properly operate and troubleshoot the system.
- Focus Areas for Testing. FAA plans to compare baseline performance data collected from tests at Atlantic City International with data collected from the additional four airports to determine whether and to what extent other airport variables impact the performance of these systems, such as geography, noise, interference, proximity to metropolitan areas, and airport infrastructure. In addition, FAA indicated that the testing will focus on ensuring that the UAS detection and/or mitigation system can protect the airport's air operations area (AOA), along with the general goal of reaching approximately 5 miles out from the center point of the AOA. The agency will determine UAS detection ranges from the center of the airfield for each system.
- Testing Timeline. FAA estimates the testing at Atlantic City International will last about three to four months. Testing at the one additional airport will occur for approximately 14 months, which will include site surveys, safety risk management panel support, installation, training, testing and evaluation, and removal.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact Justin Barkowski at justin.barkowski@aaae.org.
