Thales, NASA partner on UAS traffic management

Thales will support NASA's UAS traffic management (UTM) activity under an agreement announced on 27 March.

This agreement will allow Thales to engage with NASA on a technical and programme level to continue to establish a UTM in the US. The company will support NASA’s effort to develop a UTM concept that can be transferred to the FAA in 2019 for deployment in the national airspace system.

Thales will collaborate with NASA for the research, development, testing and evaluation of low-altitude airspace control of UAS operating at or below 400ft. This will include engagement with industry and government stakeholders to share concepts and perspectives on the integration of unmanned systems.

The agreement also includes further cooperation with existing technology capability level activities being conducted by NASA.

Thales is currently working with other NASA partners at the FAA’s New York Test Site at Griffiss International Airport in Rome, New York, and will be deploying technologies in support of NASA initiatives. Through existing agreements the company is supporting the development of UTM at the site, including integration and monitoring of the FAA’s System Wide Information Management capabilities.

Thales also continues to work with the FAA on the Low Altitude Authorisation and Notification Capability programme for small UAS integration.

Alan Pellegrini, CEO, Thales USA, said: ‘NASA, the FAA, and its partners including Thales, are working to extend the beneficial and innovative applications of small UAS, while respecting long-standing traditions of safety. Thales supports technology innovation and this agreement enables us to further leverage our strengths in air traffic management to advance a UTM concept for NASA and bring high-technology jobs to central New York.’