FAA tests drone detection, mitigation tech at 5 airports

The Federal Aviation Administration and five airports are partway through a program designed to test technologies that will detect and mitigate drone risks. [caption id="attachment_57134989" align="alignright" width="300"] Huntsville International Airport stages an unauthorized drone breaching restricted airspace at HSV by flying over an airfield perimeter fence. (Photo/Huntsville International Airport)[/caption] The FAA prohibits drone flight over areas it has identified as “No Drone Zones.” There were 1,820 drone sightings in No Drone Zones in the United States in 2022, up by 398 sightings from 2021, according to the FAA. The drones ranged from small, store-bought models to larger, commercial models. Testing for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Detection and Mitigation Program began in January 2022 and will end in September. Partner airports include: Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) in New Jersey; Rickenbacker Airport (LCK) in Columbus, Ohio; Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) in New York; Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in Washington; and Huntsville International Airport (HSV) in Alabama. “The FAA selected airports based on factors such as size, geography, noise, airport infrastructure and proximity to metropolitan areas,” an FAA spokesperson told Air Cargo Next . “We selected Atlantic City International Airport because it is co-located with the FAA Technical Center, which is where the baseline testing for the program takes place.” Read ‘Droning on: Airports eye benefits of unmanned flight’ [caption id="attachment_57134988" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo/Huntsville International Airport)[/caption] The FAA declined to speak about specific technologies being tested. “Common technologies for drone detection include radio frequency detection, radar and optical cameras,” the spokesperson said. “Common technologies for drone mitigation include disruption/jamming, RF electronic seizure, net capture and vehicle-to-vehicle interceptors.” The FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations use devices to collect visual and broadcast data, including the UAS registration number, latitude/longitude, and type and model. The FAA reports UAS detected in restricted No Drone Zones to local law enforcement. Airports seek solutions When unauthorized UAS are detected in a No Drone Zone, operations at the affected airport typically cease for safety reasons. [caption id="attachment_57134987" align="alignright" width="300"] Huntsville International Airport stages an unauthorized drone breaching restricted airspace at HSV by flying over an airfield perimeter fence. (Photo/Huntsville International Airport)[/caption] “With drones becoming more prevalent, there’s a need to detect whether they are authorized or unauthorized UAS,” Ryan Gardner , senior operations manager at HSV, told Air Cargo Next . “It’s already happening in our backyard, so we really want to be at the forefront of helping develop technologies that airports nationwide can use to better protect the airspace.” SEA does not have drone detection capabilities but has previously worked on procedures and programs related to detecting birds and foreign objects, according to airport authorities. Drone detection is the first step toward drone integration, they said. “As both the FAA and Congress have recognized, remote identification of UAS is a critical next step on the path to full integration of UAS technology,” Lance Lyttle , SEA managing director, told Air Cargo Next . “In order to ensure that our airspace remains the safest in the world and to enable our law enforcement and national security partners to identify and respond to security risks promptly, we need to know what is operating in our airspace.” Data indicated about 15 drone sightings in the Columbus metropolitan area in 2022, LCK spokesperson Sarah McQuaide said. “Typically, sightings near airports result in the air traffic control tower notifying local law enforcement officials, who attempt to locate and make contact with the operator,” McQuaide said. “Unfortunately, that is very difficult given the size of the drones, area to be searched and difficulty locating drones visually. That is one reason why we are supporting the research at Rickenbacker, so that technologies and response protocols can be further developed to help keep our airports safe.” As drone technology advances, so must detection technology [caption id="attachment_57134988" align="alignright" width="300"] (Photo/Huntsville International Airport)[/caption] “With the rapid advancements in drone technology, the Atlantic City International Airport is optimistic the FAA’s current testing of the technology to detect and potentially mitigate potential risks posed by unmanned aerial vehicles to airfields would eventually be deployed to all airports so they may identify the proximity of these devices to critical airspace,” Tim Kroll , ACY director, told Air Cargo Next . SYR authorities agreed that drone detection technology will eventually spread to all airports and be used often. “We fully expect UAS technology to become an even larger part of our everyday lives,” Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Executive Director Jason Terreri told Air Cargo Next .

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