UAS, UAV, RPA, Drones…

June 12, 2014
This emerging segment has much news lately

I took a quick count of the number of news items posted on AviationPros.com over the last few weeks relating to use of drones, unmanned aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, etc., in the civilian world. I stopped counting after more than a dozen. Most describe activity and progress in this emerging aviation industry segment with the opening of airspace test sites around the country.

I read where one drone maker this week announced an oil company contract using a small unmanned aircraft to perform routine commercial services over land in an oil field in Alaska, which sounds like a very useful tool given the remote location. Universities have gotten into the game and for years now have been training and educating engineers, operators, maintenance technicians, and sensor operators.

Then we have hobbyists who perhaps are trading in their old RC model airplanes for a more modern flying machine with some cool additions like video. Then we have what I’ll call the non-aviation entrepreneurs looking to form a business around the use of small drones. One recent report spoke about beer delivery to fishermen on boats in the middle of a Minnesota lake. Another report mentioned drones already delivering prescription drugs in Germany, spraying crops in Japan, and filming movie scenes overseas.

Last year, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International released a study that found the economic impact of integrating drones into the nation's airspace could have an economic impact of more than $80 billion and account for more than 100,000 new jobs by the year 2025.

This month in my part of the country, the Red River Valley Research Corridor will hold the 8th Annual UAS Summit in Grand Forks, ND. An impressive agenda of activities and speakers is planned for this three-day event.

So what’s it all mean? It’s appears the use of UAS, UAV, RPA, drones, these unmanned flying machines will flourish and become an important and more common part of our industry. Now will our regulators be able to keep up with all this activity?

Ron