New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory

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New Mexico State University/Physical Science
Laboratory
Technical Analysis and Applications Center A
Systems Approach to Introduce UAVs into Civil
Airspace Operations Steve Hottman Phil Copeland

• May 18, 2005

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New Mexico State University (NMSU)
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PSL Laboratories

• Information Operations
• Telemetry and Missile Systems
• Emerging Technologies
• Aerospace and Autonomous Systems

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NMSU/PSL Goals

• Perform UAV operations for validation of flight
  system operations, TE of airborne sensors and
  enabling technologies
• Establish operational methodology to perform
  routine UAV operations on the borders of the
  United States
• Create training environment for flight systems
  operations

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TAAC Approach to UAV Operations

• The TAAC works within FAA guidelines to establish
  concept of operations, and accomplish UAV flight
  operations within the NAS
• FAA guidelines are changing
• FAA path forward mandates Certificate Of Approval
  application for all UAV flight operations
• COA approval mandates safety criteria, sense and
  avoid, and geographic area
• Only flight operations for Public Owned UAVs
  are currently being approved

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NMSU/PSL UAV COA History

• Reviewed by
• ? FAA Regional Office AT and FS personnel
• ? FAA Regional AFREP
• Airspace managers at Holloman AFB, Kirtland
  AFB, and White Sands Missile Range
• ? Headquarters AT personnel

• Application consistent with criteria defined in
  FAA Order 7610.4, Chapter 12, Section 9
• Exception No particular UAV airframe
  identified, based on potential of operating a
  variety of UAVs and only over sparsely
  populated areas

• Schedule
• ? COA issued by SW Region ATD Effective July
  1, 2001 through June 30, 2002
• ?COA renewed three subsequent years
  (2002/2003, 2003/2004, and 2004/2005)
• ?Renewal application in process

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Requested Airspace in COA Renewal

• 12000 Sq Mile

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NMSU/TAAC
Excellent location for testing and operating UAVs
in the NAS

• Low density ground population
• Low volume of air traffic
• Proximity to international border
• Infrastructure improvements
• ? Hangar construction
• ? Mobile radar acquisition

Interrelationship with USAF 46th Test Group and
WSMR
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Flight Operations

• TAAC UAV flight operations
• Homeland Security Alaska Demonstration
  accomplished
• Southwest Border Demonstration accomplished
• Hawaiian local operations planned for October, 05
• Sense and Avoid flight testing planned for
  August, 2005

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2004 AK Objective
USCG AK Homeland Defense Demonstration

• Demonstrate UAV capabilities for Coast Guard
  operations in Alaskan environment

• TAAC role
• Led airspace approval effort to obtain COA for
  2004 operation
• COA included CA to AK, and regional flights in AK
  
• Coordinated with and briefed six agencies during
  process definition
• Managed airspace coordination activities for all
  flights
• Provided radar monitoring at NORAD site for Sense
  and Avoid for all mission flights
• Provided local (AK) logistics support

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Southwest Border Flight Demonstration Program
December 04

• Flight campaign completed in December with
  General Dynamics OTC systgem
• Aerostar flights conducted over ten-day period
• Demonstrate operational feasibility in Civil
  airspace
• Provide opportunity for
• federal and state agencies
• to participate in UAV mission
• planning
• Conducte entire operation utilizing SOPs
  generated by TAAC team

• UAV Characteristics
• 21 ft Wing Span, 14 ft length
• 440 lb Max Take-off Weight
• 110 nm Operational Radius
• Up to 14 hr Endurance

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Southwest Border Flight Demonstration Goals

• Safely conduct UAV operations from Las Cruces
  (non-towered/uncontrolled) Airport.
• All flights conducted safely, FBOs and local
  pilots and near airports informed of Ops, NOTAMS
  filed, Coordinated FAA/Military/FCC.
• Comply with FAA VFR regulations
• 1 Flight Rescheduled and 1 Flight cancelled
  because of cloud cover and weather.
• Demonstrate take off/landing in day/night
  conditions.
• 5 Flights, 3 Day/2 Night.
• Safely perform standard UAV operations in the
  NAS.
• Developed and performed scenarios for wide area,
  line search and specific location scenarios
  included a Customs and Border Patrol scenario.
• Successfully performed see avoid using ground
  radar and ground observers.
• Document operating procedures for UAV
  flights/missions in NAS.
• Operations Plan, Mission Plan, SOP, Checklists

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Detect and Avoid
Technology Improvement

• Cooperative and non-cooperative testing has been
  accomplished
• Testing to continue for testing on Aerostar UAV
  system
• First ever optical DA system on UAV

• Team
• Congress, OUSD/ATL, Air Force
• Aeronautical Systems Center,
• Air Force Research Laboratory,
• Air Force 46th Test Group, SRA
• International, Defense Research
• Associates, New Mexico State University (PSL)

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UAV Representation in Air Traffic Control

• Higher fidelity radar scope simulations
• ? Use FAA software
• ? Dynamic Simulator
• Additional call signs
• ? Tactical
• ? International
• Provide UAV information in other areas of air
  traffic control
• ? Aircraft type
• ? Remarks section on flight progress strip

• Five Enroute Centers
• ? 53 ARTCC Controllers
• Five TRACONS
• ? 46 TRACON Controllers

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UAV Representation in Air Traffic Control

• Results
• Data currently being analyzed
• Data to be included as part of book chapter
• Required attributes and Skills of UAV Operators
  for the future Human Factors of Remotely Piloted
  Vehicles volume of the Advances in Human
  Performance and Cognitive Engineering Research
  series.

• Landing task description
• ? 3 miles from airport
• ? Lined up on centerline
• ? 500 AGL
• ? Substantial crosswind
• ? Runway 200 width 7000 long
• ? Acceptable landing parameters
• -- Runway location
• -- Heading
• -- Vertical velocity
• ? Modeled after Farmillee and Lintern (1980)