Joint effort in Kansas yields first beyond line of sight drone flight

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Acting under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) unmannered aircraft systems (UAS) integration pilot program (IPP) this week, a joint governmental, academic and corporate effort yielded Kansas’ first beyond the line of sight UAS flight.

The flight took place north of Gypsum, Kansas, thanks to the efforts of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and more than 30 university and corporate partners alike. Further flights are already being scheduled; all intended to test aircraft capability and reliability as they push further beyond sight-limited applications. Data is being meticulously collected as the tests proceed to fuel UAS operations throughout the country.

“We’re proud of what we’re doing in Kansas to create new jobs, improve flight safety and advance agriculture,” Bob Brock, KDOT Director of Aviation and UAS, said. “Our flights mark the beginning of a new generation of Kansas innovation.”

These first round tests will also help the U.S. DOT and Federal Aviation Administration shape new rules to expand the National Airspace System further and open up new state and UAS industry possibilities. Over the next two years, testing will take place away from Kansas residents, flying over transmission lines, farms, roads, and other infrastructure instead.

Kansas’ hand in the IPP focuses on getting UAS further entwined in local industries, with a particular interest in infrastructure inspection and precision agriculture.