How Can Higher Education Best Support UAS Growth in America

This position paper considers how the university-based aviation training and education can best support the growth of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the U.S., including integration of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). The author briefly reviews the statements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) on this topic, noting that both organizations are long-standing proponents of this technology. The author outlines four strategies or areas that could be employed: the use of academic and educational institutions in the performance of research and development (RD the need for stakeholders to work together to educate the public and lawmakers about UAS, their intended uses, and typical system capabilities and limitations; the idea of identifying specific needs in different populations, such of civil and commercial operations; and the infrastructure necessary to support the use of UAS. The author concludes that involving and engaging all stakeholders, providing a collaborative framework for R&D, ensuring access to airspace is routine and available, and educating the public and policymakers will result in in an environment that fosters the technological and monetary growth expected from this field.