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Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles OK'd for Salina
By Tim Unruh
A new federal policy may present an opportunity
for a fledgling industry to grow at Salina Municipal Airport.
Unmanned aerial vehicles can now use air space
around Salina's airport, with permission from the Federal Aviation
Administration, Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport
Authority, announced to the authority board Wednesday morning. The
decision released by the FAA applies to airports across the nation.
The policy has been "long anticipated,"
Rogers said, by the airport authority, the Kansas National Guard and
Kansas State University at Salina.
"This is really the next step in enabling
K-State at Salina or the Kansas National Guard to operate from the Salina
airport," he said.
Missions can be flown from the airport into the
Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range or over Crisis City and return
unmanned aircraft to a landing at the Salina airport.
"We have now, in hand, a policy allowing it
to occur in Salina," Rogers said. "I expect that in 2010 we
will be able to take advantage of this policy."
The notice, which took effect Wednesday, is a
breakthrough, said Bruce Boyle, manager of the FAA control tower at the
airport.
"It's another step forward to allow UAVs to
operate at airports like Salina," he said.
Its welcome news for Kansas State University at
Salina, where 10 students are enrolled this semester in the Unmanned
Aerial Systems Program, said Kurt Barnhart, executive director of the
Applied Aviation Research Center and the aviation department head at
KSU-Salina.
Rather than driving to the weapons range to train,
students can potentially train at the airport, he said. The policy
could improve training and convenience, Barnhart said, and it's a
"win-win for, really, everybody," including businesses that
deal in unmanned aerial systems.
"It would allow other entities to come in and
use the Salina airport, maybe grow their business here," Barnhart
said. "It provides a structure for us to be a bigger player in
that market."
The rules prohibit flying UAVs over populated
areas, Boyle said, but it appears unmanned aircraft could land and take
off at Salina Municipal and fly between the airport and the weapons
range.
Those wishing to fly UAVs at Salina's airport
would need to apply for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization from
the FAA 60 days prior, Boyle said, but the certificate is good for one
year.
"You have to give the FAA time to take a look
at it. They have to study it first," he said. "Then if you're
approved they will send you an approval certificate in writing,
spelling out what you can and cannot do."
In other airport authority action and meeting
announcements:
· A proposal deadline is Jan. 6 for airlines interested in
entering into an Essential Air Service contract with the U.S.
Department of Transportation to provide scheduled air service at
Salina.
Great
Lakes Aviation's contract ends March 31.
Rogers
told the board there are two potential bidders interested in the Salina market, which is a "good
situation" for Salina.
Public
comments are welcome and useful in making contract determinations, Rogers said. They can be submitted
online at www.regulations.gov,
enter docket number
DOT-OST-2002-11376 in the search site.
· The authority board renewed a lease of 8.2 acres of land
at 2601 S. Centennial to Builders Choice Concrete. The five-year lease
is for $1,652 a month.
· Salina-based BWR Corp. was chosen as the firm to design
a new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting station at the airport. BWR's Kansas
City office will handle the design work, Rogers said.
A
federal Airport Improvement Program grant will pay up to $380,000 of
the design costs. The Salina
Airport Authority share is $20,000.
· The airport authority has been able to reduce its
property and liability insurance coverages to $135,000, saving $16,840
compared to this year's premium and broker fee, Rogers said.
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