[Avionics Today June 20, 2014] The FAA has approved Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Center (LSUASC) for full operations. LSUASC is the fourth of six federally mandated test sites to become operational.
Under the approval, the Lone Star center has a two-year Certificate of Authorization (COA) to use the RS-16 UAS for commercial operations. According to the FAA, the Texas site will specifically perform research on the ability of UAS to provide aerial surveillance of ocean wetlands along the Padre Island National Seashore. Other projects will include research on using UAS to support law enforcement as well as evaluating human factors for UAS control-station layout and the development of sense and avoid avionics.
“The UAS test sites will help us identify operational goals as well as safety issues we must consider when expanding the use of unmanned aircraft into our airspace,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “This industry is growing exponentially, and we are working hard to make sure it does so safely.”