[Scan-DC] Unmanned Aircraft Runway

[Richard Rowland]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 18, 2017
 Office of the Governor
Contact: Brian Coy
Email: brian.coy at governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Opens Unmanned Aircraft Runway on Wallops Island

~ After cutting ribbon, Governor McAuliffe becomes first governor to fly in 
autonomous aircraft ~

WALLOPS ISLAND - Governor Terry McAuliffe today celebrated the opening of 
Virginia's newest asset in drone technology research - a runway for unmanned 
aircraft - and then experienced the future of aviation firsthand by flying 
in a plane that can be piloted from the ground.
Governor McAuliffe visited NASA Wallops Flight Facility for a ribbon-cutting 
on the runway, a $5.8 million state-funded project officially known as the 
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Unmanned Aircraft Systems (MARS UAS) 
Airfield.
"The MARS UAS Airfield presents a significant new capability for Wallops and 
the Hampton Roads region," Governor McAuliffe said. "It propels Virginia 
further on its quest to become a national leader in autonomous technology 
and industry, which is at the heart of our efforts to build a new Virginia 
economy."
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Governor McAuliffe boarded an Aurora 
Centaur, an optionally piloted aircraft that can be operated remotely from a 
ground control station, and flew in the plane over Wallops Island.
"This new facility at Wallops provides government and commercial users with 
a runway under restricted airspace on a secure federal facility - 
discreetness that is of high interest for research and development," 
Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said.
"The new UAS runway is an outstanding and strategic addition to the vast 
array of unmanned systems assets in the Commonwealth," said Secretary of 
Technology Karen Jackson. "The addition of these unique capabilities will 
provide the opportunity for even more companies and organizations to test 
their systems in Virginia."
Additional details about the runway:
·         The runway is 3,000 feet long and 75 feet wide.
·         Its concrete pad measures 130 feet by 120 feet and is rated to 
5,000 psi for Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) operations.
·         The airfield is surrounded by 75 square nautical miles of 
restricted airspace that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to 
unlimited altitude.
·         The Virginia Department of Transportation managed construction of 
the $5.8 million, state-funded project.
·         A 90-foot-by-50-foot hangar with a 70-foot-tall rollup door, lab 
space, communications and broadband connectivity will be under construction 
this summer.
 Dale Nash, executive director of Virginia Space, thanked Governor McAuliffe 
and Virginia's legislators for providing funding for construction of the 
MARS UAS Airfield.
"I also want to thank Secretary Layne and VDOT Commissioner Charlie 
Kilpatrick for all their support," Nash said. "With Virginia Space being 
within the Transportation Secretariat, we were able to draw on their 
considerable resources. VDOT managed the entire construction of runway from 
the initial turnover of engineering drawings and permits to the last foot of 
paving."
The MARS UAS Airfield is the latest commitment by Virginia to become the 
home of an array of autonomy-related assets designed to attract business. 
This investment, combined with programs from NASA at Wallops and Langley, 
the establishment of the Autonomous Systems Center of Excellence run by the 
Center for Innovative Technology, and designation of Virginia as one of six 
FAA test sites for unmanned aircraft systems, will help fulfill the 
Commonwealth's mission of being one of the best autonomous hubs of industry 
in the nation.
According to a study completed by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle 
Systems International (AUVSI), the UAS industry is predicted to have a total 
economic impact in Virginia of approximately $270M annually by the year 
2020.

###

Charlotte Gomer
Office of Governor Terence R. McAuliffe
Press Assistant
Charlotte.Gomer at governor.virginia.gov


Richard Rowland
Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus
Richmond Building Trades
richrowl at covad.net 


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