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NASA Invites Media to Watch Drone Traffic Management Testing

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NASA

May 16, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORYM19-038
NASA is conducting field demonstrations of small drones navigating urban landscapes in Reno, Nevada, and Corpus Christi, TX
NASA is conducting field demonstrations of small drones navigating urban landscapes in Reno, Nevada, and Corpus Christi, Texas, May through August 2019. These demonstrations will complete its testing of technologies that can be part of a system to safely manage drone traffic. Credits: NASA/Lillian Gipson

NASA is entering the final stage of testing its Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) platform and invites media to learn more and watch drone demonstrations Tuesday, May 21, in Reno, Nevada.

The agency’s research into drone traffic management focuses on operations within a city, at an altitude of 200 to 400 feet, and the unique challenges presented when remote pilots fly beyond visual line of sight in an urban area. Media will have the opportunity to interview NASA researchers about this important work.

To participate, media must email their name, affiliation and telephone number to Darryl Waller at darryl.e.waller@nasa.gov by 4 p.m. PDT, Monday, May 20.

Since 2015, NASA has worked to create a research platform that can manage drone traffic safely. Through a long-standing partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration and help from many industry partners, the goal is to understand how a nationwide system for drones can safely integrate remotely-piloted aircraft into low-altitude airspace.

For more information about UTM, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/ames/utm

For more information about NASA’s aeronautics research, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch

-end-

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
Darryl Waller
Ames Research Center, California’s Silicon Valley
650-604-4789
darryl.e.waller@nasa.gov