Unmanned aircraft group to train with law officers, firefighters
July 10, 2014
Diana Campbell
907-322-7686
7/10/14
The Pan-Pacific Unmanned Aircraft Test Range Complex will conduct a training mission with the Alaska State Troopers, the Fairbanks Police Department and the Fairbanks Fire Department on Friday, July 11, at 1 p.m. at the Fairbanks Regional Fire Training Center, 1170 30th Avenue.
The Aeryon Scout, a mini-quadcopter equipped with cameras or sensors, will be used to support three public safety roles: a mock barricaded subject situation, forensic evaluation of a vehicle accident scene and a multi-story fire.
The mission has two objectives. First is to demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration how communications with air traffic control support such operations when near a public airport. The findings will assist the FAA in crafting unmanned aircraft regulations. The test complex has been charged with that responsibility. Several FAA officials will observe Friday’s operations.
The second objective is to show law enforcement and urban firefighters how the vehicles might benefit public safety.
The Scout was used in May when the test range complex conducted the same sort of fact-finding flight but with caribou and muskoxen at the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station. It was the first test flight of unmanned aircraft at the nation’s six test ranges.
The Pan-Pacific range is part of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
For more information, contact Diana Campbell at 907-322-7686 or dlcampbell@alaska.edu.
DC/7-10-14/006-14