Media Briefing on NASA-Led UAV National Airspace Access Project Slated
May 17, 2004
Release: 04-26
A media briefing on the initiation of a new NASA-led project designed to enable remotely or autonomously operated aircraft to fly safely and routinely with other aircraft within the national airspace system is scheduled for Thursday, May 20, at the Antelope Valley Inn convention center, 44055 Sierra Highway in Lancaster. The briefing, scheduled for 1 p.m., will be held in the Sierra B room adjacent to the main convention hall.
The project, known as HALE ROA in the NAS (High-Altitude, Long-Endurance Remotely Operated Aircraft in the National Airspace), brings together NASA, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and six aerospace firms with a direct interest in development of civil as well as military uses of unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs. Such aircraft have been limited primarily to flying in restricted military operational or test areas, and the minimal use of UAVs in civil airspace in recent years has been tightly controlled on a case-by-case basis to avoid conflict with conventionally piloted aircraft.
Participants in the briefing will include:
- Richard Wlezien, manager of the Vehicle Systems Program in the Aeronautics Enterprise at NASA headquarters;
- Jeff Bauer, HALE ROA in the NAS project manager at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center;
- Robert S. “Scott” Dann, industry director for the UAV National Industry Team, the industry consortium on UAV airspace and operational issues.
Media representatives planning to attend the briefing should contact Alan Brown, NASA Dryden public affairs, at 661 / 276-2665 or via e-mail at alan.brown@nasa.gov prior to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 19. Supporting materials for reporters, including B-roll video for television outlets, will be available at the site. Interested media unable to attend in person may call 201 / 210-3434, and enter guest code 133091 to participate in the briefing via teleconference.
A video news release, featuring comments on HALE ROA in the NAS from Jeff Bauer, will air on NASA Television during the Video File feeds on May 20. NASA TV is accessible on the AMC-9 satellite, transponder 9-C, 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization, on a frequency of 3880 MHz (video) and 6.8 MHz (audio).
-NASA-