To the editor:
I would like to inform the local area readers of the Oct. 9th issue of the Aroostook Republican about a very misleading article that was printed under the title “Walk Against Drone Testing Starts In Limestone.” What the individual who wrote this article failed to do their basic journalism duty properly and has probably created false fears amongst the local citizens of Aroostook County.
First of all the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will not be testing armed Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) at the Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle or in the state of Maine, for that fact.
On Feb. 14, 2012 President Obama signed into law the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.” If you were to read this law and look under Title III – Safety, Subtitle – B: UAS, you would find that the words “military” or “armed drones” is never mentioned in this law. Why? Because the whole premise of this law is for the FAA to study, test, research and have ready by December 31, 2015 the Standards for Operations and Certifications for commercial and private UAS’s to have ready for the Secretary of Transportation to implement into the America’s national airspace in a safe and legal manner.
At the time this law was signed there were some 285 certificates for 85 users within the United States. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be an approximately some 30,000 non-military UAS flying within the United States. The FAA wants to establish standards, regulations and certifications for their use in amongst the corridors of the already established aircraft and airport flight parameters.
So how does the Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle play into this previous misleading news article? The “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012” requires that the FAA select six test sites and use these test sites to help the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Defense (DoD), FAA and UAS manufacturers to provide studies that would provide a roadmap in the integration of UAS’s into the national airspace system. Thirty-seven states have submitted requests to the FAA to have one of those six test site in their state, which the FAA will make public prior to Dec. 31, 2013.
Yes, Maine has thrown its hat into the ring in hopes that one of this state’s airports might be selected for this great and historic event. If the Northern Maine Regional Airport at Presque Isle were to be selected as one of the six test sites, which I doubt, but if it were selected this event could bring in tens of millions of dollars and hi-tech jobs to our regional area for many years as this new aviation industry is just ready to explode and we here in Aroostook County could possibly be a part of it all.
Rick Flannery
Caribou
