CAPE MAY – Much like the Wright brothers’ first flight, but on a modern scale, was the first unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flight in national airspace in New Jersey Jan. 28.
The much-anticipated maiden test flight from the Coast Guard Training Center took place over the Atlantic Ocean from 2:01 p.m. until 3:02 p.m., according to Michael J. Chumer, of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).
Chumer, had visited with freeholders Jan. 27, and told them of the pending flights, which depend solely on weather conditions. A series of test flights Jan. 29 and 30 were trimmed to Jan. 29, due to predicted weather systems that would make the tests impossible.
The county has been working to locate a facility at Cape May County Airport that would provide employment for locals in the budding field of unmanned aircraft, commonly referred to as drones. It also hired American Aerospace Advisors Inc. to assist in that endeavor.
Chumer wrote, “After almost three years of planning and obtaining the proper approvals NJIT and American Aerospace Advisors Inc. Successfully launched and landed a tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS) from the U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN Cape May.
“The flight launched at 1401 and landed at 1502. One hour over the Atlantic Ocean. This was the first flight in N.J. under a FAA certificate of approval and was the first flight in New Jersey in the national airspace.
“There have been flights in New Jersey in military airspace but never in approved national airspace. This was a complete team effort with a UAS emergency management “tiger team” provided by the Business Emergency Operations Center (BEOC) Alliance, with special thanks to Alliance members Atlantic Health Systems, Bank of America, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Mutualink.”
Chumer thanked the county, which is creating an economic development infra-structure for organizations that wish to further develop UAS applications that can be applied in the national airspace.
Cape May County provided the team use of its Emergency Operations mobile van.
Mutualink deployed its technology in the van interfacing with the video from the UAS camera and distributing the video to operation centers in New Jersey and New York.
He further thanked the state Office of Homeland and Preparedness as well as the Delaware River Bay Authority, and the FAA for its guidance which was necessary for safe flight operations.
Flights will continue Jan. 28. A decision was made to cancel any flights Jan. 29 due to current weather forecasts.
All in all four flights will be conducted to include the first maiden flight.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
