Study for UAS flight in Australian airspace underway

13th May 2014 - 08:22 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

RSS

Northrop Grumman is working with Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University to study airworthiness requirements for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Australia.

The study is primarily focused on the operation of larger UAVs around the size of small commercial jets, and the solutions required to safely and efficiently fly these systems in all aerospace environments.

Ian Irving, chief executive, Northrop Grumman Australia, said: ‘As a producer of large-scale unmanned aircraft systems, our goal is not only to provide the aircraft, but also to understand fully the Australian government's needs to certify them for operation. We're extremely excited to work with RMIT University because of their leadership in the development of innovative approaches to civil and military airspace regulatory reform and air vehicle certification.’

Reece Clothier, from RMIT's Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre, added: ‘Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of high-altitude unmanned aircraft systems that will provide a transformative capability to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In collaboration with Northrop Grumman and the ADF, we will help establish a plan for bringing this unique capability into service.’

Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk system became the first UAV to achieve US military airworthiness certification, along with a certificate of authorisation from the US Federal Aviation Administration, recognising the system for its ability to routinely fly within national airspace.

RQ-4 Global Hawk