Unmanned Aircraft Flights and Research at the United States Air Force Academy

The United States Air Force Academy is actively involved in unmanned aircraft research across numerous departments involving many projects, aircraft, government agencies, and experimental programs. The importance of these research projects to the Academy, the faculty, the cadets, the Air Force, and to the defense of the nation cannot be understated. In an effort to be proactive in cooperating with recent concerns from the FAA about the growth and proliferation of UAS flights, the Air Force has implemented several new guidelines and requirements. Complying with these guidelines, directives, and regulations has been challenging to the researchers and research activities conducted at USAFA. Finding ways to incorporate these new guidelines effectively and efficiently is critical to research and participation in joint projects and exercises. This paper explores the nature of research at USAFA current restrictions imposed by the various regulations, the current process, short term solutions, and a long term vision for research into UAS at the Academy.