Salina, Kan., (June 10, 2009) - The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Certificate of Authorization Monday, for Flint Hills Solutions' Aerosonde, an unmanned aerial vehicle.
 
The COA allows the Aerosonde to fly over Crisis City, part of Great Plains Joint Training Center located next to the National Guard's Smoky Hill Weapons Range.  It is the result of the combined efforts of Kansas State University, Flint Hills Solutions and the Salina Airport Authority.  
 
"This was a major step in supporting the Unmanned Aerial Systems projects at K-State and will be extremely helpful as we continue to partner with Flint Hills Solutions to make giant strides forward in applying this technology to save lives and enhance emergency response," said Dennis Kuhlman, dean of K-State's College of Technology and Aviation. 
 
A COA is a waiver that represents a procedural interim mechanism authorizing UAV flight as the FAA evolves regulatory airworthiness, collision avoidance standards and certification requirements to be implemented through Special Federal Aviation Regulations, said Kulhman.
 
Until now, the Aerosonde has been limited to flying in the restricted airspace over the Smoky Hill Weapons Range.  The ability to fly over Crisis City opens the door to more extensive training in search and rescue operations through the use of training sites that include a rubble pile, vehicular rescue and a disaster-struck city.
 
The COA comes as K-State prepares to open their Applied Aviation Research Center, home to the UAS Technology Evaluation Center that will evaluate existing UAS technology and platforms for their suitability in disaster response scenarios and train operators and maintainers.  The AARC will also house an advanced avionics miniaturization program in conjunction with Flint Hills Solutions. 
 
"We at the Authority are pleased to be a part of what is sure to be a great chapter in history," said Timothy F. Rogers, A.A.E., SAA executive director.  "UAV technology is advancing rapidly and we will continue to facilitate it anyway we can."

 

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