© AFP Photo/Saul Loeb drone is on display during the Unmanned Systems 2013 exhibition and symposium hosted by The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, August 13, 2013
Testing of the unmanned aircraft is due to start within three months and could continue until February 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement.
The FAA has said some 7,500 small unmanned aircraft can be expected in US airspace in the next five years -- provided regulations are in place to handle them.
As well as law enforcement, supporters say civilian drones could be used for a vast range of applications, including tracking the progress of wildfires, helping to find lost skiers, identifying criminals or mapping inhospitable terrain.
Data from the testing "will help the FAA answer key research questions such as solutions for 'sense and avoid,' command and control, ground control station standards and human factors, airworthiness, lost link procedures and the interface with the air traffic control system," the FAA said.
Operators include the University of Alaska, whose winning proposal covers seven climatic zones and foresees testing in the states of Hawaii and Oregon.
The state of Nevada will, among other things, focus on how air traffic control procedures will evolve with the introduction of drones.
© AFP PhotoThis photo released by Amazon on December 1, 2013 shows a flying "octocopter" mini-drone that would be used to fly small packages to consumers
Another chosen operator, the North Dakota Department of Commerce, is the only one to offer testing in a temperate, continental climate and a variety of different airspaces, according to the FAA.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi plans to develop system safety requirements.
The sixth operator, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, known as Virginia Tech, will conduct "failure mode testing," with sites in both Virginia and New Jersey.
The FAA said it had received 25 proposals from 24 states and made its selection following a 10-month selection process.
Comment: Mr. Bezo's assured us very recently that his amazon delivery drones are in future citing FAA regulation delays. Now, we are made aware that FAA has been working on regulations for a year and ready for testing. So one has to wonder what else is going on towards 'Machine takeover' after decades of covert 'psychopath takeover' of human affairs.
It noted in its announcement that, as laid out in November, test site operators must comply with federal, state and other privacy laws and have a "written plan for data use and retention."
Michael Toscano, president and chief executive of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, representing drone makers, welcomed the FAA's announcement, calling it "an important milestone on the path toward unlocking the potential of unmanned aircraft."
According to Toscano, the market for civilian drones will lead to the creation of 100,000 jobs over the first decade following their integration into US skies. That would generate more than $82 billion, he said.
Comment: Job creation argument sells well for the public. But, Is it true or just another myth like 'minimum wage increase will destroy the economy and its uber rich ' ?
"We're pleased the FAA acknowledges the importance of safeguarding privacy in the testing areas where drones will be flying, but requiring test sites to have privacy policies is no guarantee that every site will put strong protections in place," Catherine Crump, the group's staff attorney, said in a statement.
"Someday drones will be commonplace in US skies and, before that happens, it's imperative that Congress enact strong, nationwide privacy rules."
About 80 law enforcement agencies currently operate unmanned aircraft under special authorization.
Earlier this month, Amazon head Jeff Bezos floated a futuristic mini-drone delivery plan that would drop small packages at doorsteps in just 30 minutes.
That's the only thing these 'civilian' drones are going to be used for.............targetting civilians. "As well as law enforcement, supporters say civilian drones could be used for a vast range of applications, including tracking the progress of wildfires, helping to find lost skiers, identifying criminals or mapping inhospitable terrain". The Obama regime is ONLY about taking-out civilians.....they're just 'practicing' right now. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but up until reading this article I was opposed to all gun ownership in the US of A. Now I'm thinking you guys aren't armed enough to protect yourselves from Obama and his AGENDA. Put this on your next shopping list.......rocket launcher and high powered scope. It could be a news form of skeet shooting. Your 'right to bear arms' is about to become your only survival it seems. How many mass shootings have there been since Obama has been in office? I still think it is completely impossible that the Sandy Hook shooter was a 120 lb weakling of a boy who up until that day had never shown any signs of violent behaviour......PERFECT PATSY. Do you know how much two huge assault rifles and a tactical vest carrying over 1,600 rounds of ammo weighs?????? Obama used that tragedy to challenge the NRA and try to take away people's right to bear arms.....it was the perfect platform. I find it almost impossible.......to look at Obama's face and not get chills down my spine. He is EVIL and the MASTER OF ALL DECEPTION. "Martial Law"........coming soon, to a neighborhood near you...........then yours. Your military is already patrolling your neighborhoods, marking mailboxes with different coloured circles and marking x's on the ground in front of 'selected' homes. Only 'they' know what it's all for. Don't you want to know to???????? Nobody seems to be DEMANDING any answers.......just watching it all happen like you've already given-up all your RIGHTS.