Begich Helps Bring New Technology, Jobs to FBX

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mark Begich is pleased with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s announcement today that the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) has received authorization to begin operations of a test site for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The FAA granted UAF a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) authorizing flights by small UAS for animal surveys at its Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range Complex in Fairbanks. The COA is effective for two years. The UAF test site, which is a partnership with Oregon and Hawaii, is expected to create over 1,400 jobs in those three states by 2017.

"Alaska should be a leader in this new, cutting-edge technology and that's why I fought to include UAS test sites in the FAA bill in 2012," said Begich. "The UAF program will greatly increase our understanding of the capabilities of unmanned aircraft and how they can be used for things like monitoring pipelines, surveying wildlife, and fighting wildfires. We still have much to learn about UAS operations--how they can be used safely, without interfering with our aviation industry, and how to make absolutely sure that the public's privacy is not compromised. I know that Alaska is the right place to test UAV's because, as Alaskans know, if we can make them work here, we can make them work anywhere."

The program at UAF is the second of six UAS sites to become operational nationwide. The first project they will undertake is a survey of Alaska wildlife to show how a UAS can accurately locate, identify, and count large wild animals, such as caribou, reindeer, musk ox and bear for survey operations requested by the state of Alaska. The team began the wildlife flight operations today.

Begich has long supported a strong Alaska role in UAS technology development as one more way to bring jobs and innovation to Alaska's economy. Begich has also advocated for the military UAS mission, Gray Eagle, to be stationed at Eielson Air Force Base.

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