Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): A New Era in Aviation Safety Research

Doug Olsen University of North Dakota (UND) Project Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center of Excellence February 23, 2016

PRESENTATION NAME

Aviation Safety Research at UND

PRESENTATION NAME UAS – A New Era In Aviation Safety Research

Selected Meteorology Research Topics Aviation Safety Application

Flight tests in icing, turbulence, wind shear è Enhanced airborne safety

NEXRAD, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar è Air route avoidance of weather

Thunderstorm turbulence modeling è Improved air route planning

Low altitude measurements from UAS è Low altitude turbulence avoidance

Collaborative Research Partners •  Universities, research institutions •  Government agencies •  Corporate sponsors

UND  Cita)on  Research  Jet   UND  Doppler  Radar  

•  Unmanned  Aircra,  Systems  (UAS)  Research  Poten7al  –  “Dull,  dirty,  dangerous”  

•  Ini7al  UAS  Opportuni7es  –  Extend  dura7on  –  Access  new  measurements  –  Mi7gate  risk    

•  Technology  change  agent  

UAS Opportunities For Aviation Safety Research

PRESENTATION NAME UAS – A New Era In Aviation Safety Research

Aerosonde  by  AAI  Corp.  

NASA/Northrop  Grumman  Global  Hawk  

Sensurion  Magpie  Hurricane  Sandy  

PRESENTATION NAME

UAS Challenges In Aviation Safety Research

UAS – A New Era In Aviation Safety Research

Ongoing  UAS  Research  –  Beyond  VLOS  (Visual  Line  of  Sight)    

What’s  Needed  Next  –  UAS  “Beyond  VFR”  (Visual  Flight  Rules)    

UAS Test Sites – New Resource for Aviation Safety Research

PRESENTATION NAME UAS – A New Era In Aviation Safety Research

•  FAA  designated  6  sites  –  Northern  Plains  (ND)    –  Mid-­‐Atlan7c  (VA,  MD,  NJ)  –  Northeast  (NY,  MA)  –  Pan-­‐Pacific  (AK,  OR,  HI)    –  NV  –  TX  

•  Selected  for  –  Safety    –  Capabili7es  –  Diversity  

•  Serving  –  Avia7on  Research  

Community  –  UAS  Industry  –  UAS  End  Users  

Opera)ons  at  Northern  Plains  Unmanned  AircraT  Test  Site  (NP  UAS  TS)  

UAS Synergies for Aviation Safety Research

PRESENTATION NAME UAS – A New Era In Aviation Safety Research

+  

Existing Aviation Safety Research Capabilities

=  

New UAS Research Initiatives

New Era for

Aviation Safety

Research