Attendees dug deeper (or is it flew higher?) into UAS industry issues during day two of UAS Connect, addressing these and other questions:
Who will fill the training gap?
As Dan Fritz, Director of International Programs, Aircraft Systems, for our newest tenant, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) shared, “The Army and the Air Force face challenges ensuring that the pilots who remotely operate their unmanned aerial systems (UAS) complete their required training.” Part of the solution is GA-ASI’s Grand Sky training academy:
Dan also shared other outsourcing and distribution initiatives. See news of the GA-ASI Grand Sky lease.
How will we handle RPAS?
“Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are an important element on the transition of the aviation system of the future,” says Doug Davis, Director of Airworthiness at another Grand Sky tenant, Northrop Grumman. He noted that integration will require considerations of data links, satellite navigation and surveillance equipment, flight planning, mission management, plus taxiing and surface operations systems.
What’s the state of the industry?
Mario Mairena, Sr. Government Relations Manager for Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), which takes care of industry education, advocacy and leadership, shared these stats from their latest economic report:
- The UAS global market is currently $11.3 billion
- Over the next 10 years, the UAS global market will total $140 billion
He also emphasized UAS airspace integration efforts, FAA exemptions, education programs such as Know Before You Fly. And if you’re ever asked about how UAS can be used, here’s a handy response:
What about data?
Consider this from Luke Geiver, Managing Editor of UAS Magazine. His panel’s discussion highlighted the growth, technologies, mindsets and regulatory considerations of the growing UAS data ecosystem.
Visit the UAS Summit & Expo website for more information.
