Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Alaskan Civil Research

In Alaska, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have garnered much attention, largely due to ongoing research at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). This research has focused on a multitude of civilian applications suitable for support by the technology. UAF has long held an advantage in this competitive research by virtue of its status as a non-profit research institution, a requirement for approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate UAS. In addition, UAF has a long history in this field, managing airspace since the 1960’s as part of its duties as the only university-operated rocket range in the world. These factors have led many commercial entities to partner with UAF to conduct UAS research over the years.