Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Background

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) have been used primarily by the military for many years.  As this emerging technology develops, UAS activity is on the rise with benefits expected through a variety of civilian and commercial applications. In 2012, federal legislation required the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to safely integrate UAS into the National Air Space by September 2015. In December 2013, the FAA announced the selection of the six public entities that will develop uncrewed aircraft systems research and test sites around the country.   
 
"These congressionally-mandated test sites will conduct critical research into the certification and operational requirements necessary to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years. Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi was selected as one of  the six sites and plans to develop system safety requirements for UAS vehicles and operations with a goal of protocols and procedures for airworthiness testing."   Source: FAA Press Release 
 
In February 2012, NCTCOG staff published the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Report, a product of the Regional General Aviation and Heliport System Plan. Please visit the North Texas UAS website for operational requirements and guidelines, resources, and much more.

Know Before You Fly Your Drone Workshops 

As all communities worked together to stop the spread of COVID-19, NCTCOG held all 20 Know Before You Fly Your Drone workshops virtually. To learn about where to fly, best practices, rules and regulations, and much more, visit YouTube and watch the series.

UAS Task Force

The North Texas UAS Safety and Integration Task Force is a public/private partnership that aims to mitigate reckless UAS operation and promote and accelerate the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the Dallas-Fort Worth regional airspace through education, training, legislation, public awareness, strategic planning and innovation. 

The Task Force will collaborate to recommend and develop safety protocols and regional procedures while adhering to federal and state rules and requirements and will work to inform UAS operators and the general public through outreach and access to educational resources. 

Please visit the North Texas UAS website for upcoming UAS information, operational requirements and guidelines, resources, and much more.  

Note: Due to proprietary content, not all meeting presentations will be posted. 

Staff Contacts:  Ernest Huffman, Natalie Bettger