ACUASI in the News

University of Alaska, Gov. Dunleavy announce inaugural conference

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A calendar.04/19/2023

The University of Alaska and Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced that the University and State of Alaska will host the inaugural Global Autonomous Systems Conference (GASC) in Anchorage on Aug. 9-11, 2023. GASC is a three-day gathering that will include presentations from worldwide experts, conversations among policy and industry leaders, and opportunities to connect with visionaries in autonomous systems. The convening is sponsored by the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. ACUASI is one of the nation’s top drone research programs.

ACUASI working with Merlin for First Air Cargo Network Flown by Non-Human Pilot

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A calendar.04/12/2023

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded Merlin, the leading developer of safe autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, a $1 million contract to demonstrate a highly automated flight control system in conjunction with a safety pilot. In partnership with the FAA designated University of Alaska Fairbanks UAS Test Site and Everts Air Cargo, the Merlin Pilot will be the first autonomy system integrated into the NAS. Flight trials will run along three test routes serving five destinations. All test routes originate from the FAA designated UAS Alaska test site in Q2 2023.

‘Airborne object’ response builds on UAF, military partnership

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A calendar.03/16/2023

Robert McCoy, director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, was driving to the movie theater in Fairbanks on a Saturday in mid-February when his cellphone showed an incoming call.

It was from someone with the Department of Defense’s Alaskan Command, a person he knows well. The caller had a request: Could the Geophysical Institute help search for the remains of an airborne object shot down by an Air Force fighter jet over Alaska’s Arctic Ocean seven days earlier?

Absolutely.

FAA Issues Special Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Waiver to Alaska

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A calendar.03/02/2023

ANCHORAGE, Alaska) – Alaska is the first state to be able to grant permission for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to operate and test with the aim of securing certification for national airspace flight. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the waiver this week, which was requested by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in late 2020. Alaska is now the only state with the ability to allow UAS operations classified as research or development, including aircraft under 300 pounds, to be conducted in our UAS test-site airspace.

FAA grants wide authority to UAF unmanned aircraft center

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A calendar.02/15/2023

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted a regulatory waiver to the University of Alaska Fairbanks unmanned aircraft systems test site. The agency’s decision supports aircraft manufacturers and operators in proving the safety of their drones so they can be certified for flight in the national airspace system.The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, ACUASI, a unit of the UAF Geophysical Institute, manages and operates the test site. ACUASI has become a national leader in implementing the safe operation and integration of unmanned aircraft.

Advancing research and innovation

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A calendar.06/02/2022

The University of Alaska Fairbanks focuses on actionable research, and Alaska’s individuals and industries have noticed.

UAF makes Alaska’s first large drone flight from international airport

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A calendar.05/23/2022

An unmanned aircraft owned and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks flew from the general aviation area of Fairbanks International Airport on Sunday, a historic feat in the effort to safely incorporate such aircraft into controlled airspace.

The flight was the first civilian large drone operation from an international airport in Alaska.

Taking off from the airport’s general aviation runway, the Sentry aircraft flew in a designated flight pattern used for departures, arrivals and runway approach practice. It was controlled remotely by the UAF Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration personnel inside the ground control station near the far end of the airport’s East Ramp.

Parallel Flight Technologies to Participate in the Federal Aviation Administration’s BEYOND Program

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A calendar.05/02/2021

BEYOND is focused on advancing UAS operations in the National Airspace System.

Remote sensing map of Canada's first highway to the Arctic completed

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A calendar.04/08/2021

Members of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) recently completed a high resolution map of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Canada’s first all-weather road to the Arctic.

UAF research team uses drones to help the community

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A calendar.02/10/2020

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), often referred to as drones, are quickly becoming an important tool for many industries and agencies in the U.S. On Friday morning the Alaska State Troopers requested the help of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Syste

First FAA-Approved Long-Range UAS Test Completed in Alaska

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A calendar.08/22/2019

Pilots and scientists from the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration made the first official beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Alaska Team Performs BVLOS Drone Flight Without Human Observers

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A calendar.08/02/2019

UAS Integration Pilot Program partners achieve milestone during pipeline inspection operation.

Drone Experts Present Technological Threats, Solutions to Senators

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A calendar.06/19/2019

A panel of witnesses explained to senators the challenges and potential solutions for securely using and regulating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones at a June 18 Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Security Subcommittee hearing

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