Drone Symposium Aims at Sky Frontier

ERMA – Nearly 150 invited guests attended the first UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Symposium at NAS Wildwood Museum at the Cape May County Airport Oct. 28.
The museum, headed by Dr. Joseph Salvatore, provided an ironic yet appropriate contrast to this symposium, which organizers hope will become an annual event, as speakers introduced new UAS concepts at a lectern between two bi-planes from the 1930s, only a few feet from unmanned aviation system exhibits representing the 21st century.
Clearly aviation is changing and the Cape May County area is determined to become a leader in testing and development of those modern day flying machines.
Hosted by Scott Green, executive director, Delaware River and Bay Authority, and Freeholder Will Morey, the Oct. 30 session was only one part of the overall series of events designed to highlight UAS opportunities in New Jersey.  
DRBA Director of Airports Stephen Williams and Greta Mattessich, Cape May economic development coordinator, explained that this event focused on uniting government, academic and private sector enterprises and resources to promote and grow UAS testing and development in the county and surrounding areas of the state. 
Matttessich was gratified at the level of cooperation and coordination that this and previous events have demonstrated. Williams was also upbeat about the participation of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership in encouraging future growth in this new technology.
The symposium also seeks to address key issues such as how private sector firms can enter the field, New Jersey’s role as a UAS test site, and educational/workforce issues, including how to nurture and encourage young people who show interest in a science, engineering and math career.
This session featured a presentation by retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Marke “Hoot” Gibson, and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd). 
Gibson explained that he was appointed senior advisor on UAS Integration at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) one month ago, but he has already seen that there could be a major “culture clash between traditional aviators and the new IT people” who are developing UAS technology. 
He sees a “sea-state change” occurring because the nation needs to take a “global leadership role in this technology,” and added that “societal uses such as first responders, and fire service applications” are also important uses for UAS.
Gibson spoke about the FAA’s need to get organized to address issues such as municipalities which are pressing to regulate “drones” independent of the FAA mandate, and detection technologies that are needed to prevent mid-air collisions.
All of these issues point to the need for registration of drones which can be a touchy subject for some. Gibson stated that the FAA will take appropriate steps to define the types, size and capability of unmanned systems that need to be registered with the FAA, and design a method to register those drones easily and quickly.
They have a deadline of Dec. 21 to implement a registration system; statistics that estimate that 1 million drones will be sold nationally this Christmas season alone makes quick action critical.  Gibson also noted that registration is a pathway to education, so that those classes of drone operators that need training can be identified.
LoBiondo gave the keynote address saying “We could not be in a more exciting time in aviation; it is the new frontier.” 
He went on “We are blessed here in New Jersey’s Second Congressional District because we have the FAA  Hughes Technical Center right here.” He complimented the “state-of-the-art” labs and the dedicated and skilled researchers at the Hughes Center.
LoBiondo pointed out that the FAA has created six testing centers throughout the country, and that we, in partnership with Virginia and Maryland, have been designated as one of those centers.
“This is an opportunity” for us, but “we have fallen behind in private sector application,” LoBiondo noted.  He complimented Gibson as “the real deal, who gets it”  when describing the need to harness the energy needed to ensure that the private sector’s needs are addressed as the UAS technology develops into the future. 
As partnerships between government, academia and the private sector continue to evolve and grow, hopes are high that the future for New Jersey is as bright and new as the new UAS aircraft exhibited in the NAS Wildwood Museum during this event.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.