[Avionics Today May 13, 2014] Boulder, Colo.-based FreeWave Technologies has announced its participation in the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) Special Committee 228, focusing on developing Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for commercial Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations.
The group is looking to provide standards that enable UAS to operate in Class A airspace under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). FreeWave has been providing wireless Command and Control (C2) links for UAS applications over the last decade, and feels its experience will help the FAA develop MOPS to enable beyond line of sight commercial UAS applications.
"We are thrilled to work with the RTCA during such an exciting time for the unmanned systems industry," said Phil Linker, senior product manager at FreeWave. "We’ve joined a well-respected group of individuals dedicated to providing an important set of standards as the country prepares to open its airspace to commercial operations."