FAA Clears CU For Drone Tests Takeoff
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The Federal Aviation Administration will soon allow the University of Colorado to start testing drones -- and they aren't the typical hobby drones.
One of the drones that will be tested is called the Tempest. It's used for storm chasing and is one of two drones that will soon be hitting the skies in the San Luis Valley near Alamosa.
The Tempest was the first official drone to intercept a supercell thunderstorm.
"Over an area of about 8,000 square miles, and up to altitudes of 15,000 feet," CU Professor Brian Argrow said.
The second drone is the Hummingbird, a 120-pound drone designed by Lafayette-based Reference Technologies.
"The aircraft are actually from local industry," Argrow said.
Reference Technologies says the San Luis Valley is key to testing out the drones' long flight time of more than six hours and 20-pound payload.
"With the test site people will have opportunities to get out and test these aircraft," Argrow said.
Argrow said the FAA approval is the result of work done by nonprofit UASColorado which is working to bring drone-related business to Colorado.
"The movement is here, we've seen it on a daily basis," Argrow said.
It's movement that Argrow says is coming faster and faster as companies and organizations take a wide look at drone potential.
"The testing is really to see how suitable they are for different types of applications."
CU will start flying the drones as early as this fall before the weather gets too bad.