UAS Growth And Development For Kansas

Tim Rogers - Fri 04:31 PM 06/29/2012

For over five years the Salina Airport Authority, Kansas State University and the State of Kansas have actively supported the growth and development of the unmanned aerial systems industry in the state. UAS operations and training have become a significant component of student growth at the Kansas State University Salina campus. The K-State Salina UAS Program Office has partnered with the Kansas National Guard to make UAS aircraft and sensors available to emergency management incident commanders across the State during times of emergency response. This application of UAS technology and capability offers the citizens of Kansas an immediate return on the investment of the time and resources used to establish the K-State Salina UAS Program Office.

The K-State UAS Program Office has also established significant relationships with top tier UAS industry business partners. Through service agreements, K-State is able to offer a variety of research and development services to UAS companies that are developing new aircraft, engines, sensors and avionics. K-State's capabilities are enhanced by the fact that the UAS Program Office has access to nearby restricted air space and can also conduct UAS operations within Class D airspace at the Salina Airport.

The capabilities of the K-State Salina UAS Program Office make Kansas State University Salina a strong contender for designation as a Federal Aviation Administration UAS test site or an FAA Center of Excellence for UAS development. K-State has already taken significant steps to obtain both designations. K-State is working in partnership with other Kansas UAS operators and a significant number of other major university aviation programs to secure FAA designations as a test site and a center of excellence. K-State's success will result in significant economic benefits for our state. K-State's success will also add to the Kansas reputation as an aviation industry leader.

K-State has my full support and will gain the support of other local, state and national leaders.

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