RENO – For the first time in aviation history, a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft has successfully tested a cloud-seeding payload during an experimental flight in Nevada.
Flown at Hawthorne Industrial Airport under the state’s FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site designation, the Drone America Savant™ aircraft reached an altitude of 400 feet and flew for approximately 18 minutes on Friday, April 29, 2016.
The Savant™ aircraft – named the “Sandoval Silver State Seeder” in honor of Governor Brian Sandoval’s dedication to the success of the state’s UAS industry – deployed two silver-iodide flares, successfully testing and demonstrating its ability to perform unmanned aerial cloud seeding operations.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for the state of Nevada and everyone involved,” said the project's lead scientist, Adam Watts, Ph.D., an assistant research professor at DRI and an expert in UAS applications for ecological and natural-resources applications.
Led by the Desert Research Institute (DRI), and supported by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development through the Knowledge Fund, this first-of-its-kind project is helping Nevada address the ongoing impacts of drought and explore innovative solutions for natural-resource challenges such as augmenting regional water supplies. The research team combines more than 30 years of weather modification research and expertise at DRI with the proven experience in aerospace manufacturing and flight operations of Reno-based Drone America, and the industry leading unmanned aerial data services of Las Vegas-based AviSight.
“We have reached another major milestone in our effort to reduce both the risks and the costs in the cloud seeding industry and help mitigate natural disasters caused by drought, hail and extreme fog,” said Mike Richards, President and CEO of Drone America. “With a wingspan of 11-feet, 10-inches and its light weight design (less than 55 pounds) the Savant™ is the perfect vehicle to conduct this type of operation due to its superior flight profile, long flight times and its resistance to wind and adverse weather conditions.”
Drone America performed the test flight under an FAA agreement in partnership with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS). This flight was the first use by DRI of the Nevada Test Site’s Certificate of Authorization (COA), which grants authority to operate the Savant™ at altitudes up to 1,200 feet.
"The Nevada-based research and flight teams that produced these trend-setting results are clearly leading the industry with this innovative technology. Conducting this unmanned cloud seeding test flight is a first flying in the National Airspace System and in Nevada," said Dr. Chris Walach, Director for the FAA-designated Nevada Unmanned Aviation Test Site.
AviSight performed aerial support for the test flight with their manned aircraft, recording both infrared and HD video of the flight to support future system refinements and plans to conduct UAS flights beyond visual line-of-sight
"This is an important step for Nevada and the unmanned aerial industry," said James Fleitz, co-founder of AviSight. "This collaborative effort highlights the diverse applications of unmanned systems and showcased the ability of this technology to support scientific advancements."
Together with Drone America and AviSight, DRI researchers plan to create weather forecasts and conduct flight planning for manned and unmanned aircraft; conduct tests of cloud seeding operations using manned and unmanned systems as well as existing ground generators; and estimate the effectiveness of UAS cloud seeding applications across DRI’s current Lake Tahoe Basin operations area.
“Not only does this demonstrate the capabilities of the Savant™,” said Amber Broch, chief engineer for the project and an assistant research engineer at DRI, “but it also shows the tremendous potential to use unmanned systems as tools for environmental science and innovative natural resource applications.”
PHOTOS:
Photo Credit: Drone America's Savant™ sUAS flies with cloud seeding flares at the Hawthorne Industrial Airport in Hawthorne, Nevada on Friday, April 29, 2016. The aircraft flight test was successful in igniting two silver-iodide flares at 400-feet and flying for approximately 18 minutes.
Credit: Kevin Clifford, Drone America
Photo Caption: NIAS, DRI and Drone America members pose after a successful flight of Drone America's Savant™ sUAS with cloud seeding flares at the Hawthorne Industrial Airport in Hawthorne, Nev. on Friday, April 29, 2016. Credit: Kevin Clifford, Drone America
Photo Caption: (From Left) Drone America's Todd Richman, pilot, and Kyle Pruett, engineer and pilot, prepare to test fly the Savant sUAS with cloud seeding flares at the Hawthorne Industrial Airport in Hawthorne, Nev. on Friday, April 29, 2016. The Savant flew to 400 feet and was successful in igniting two silver-iodide cloud seeding flares. Credit: Kevin Clifford, Drone America
Additional photos available upon request.
VIDEO:
Video of the Savant ™ test flight can be viewed at –
https://youtu.be/26tSm-eDva4
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About the Desert Research Institute: DRI, the nonprofit research arm of the Nevada System of Higher Education, strives to be the world leader in environmental sciences through the application of knowledge and technologies to improve people’s lives throughout Nevada and the world. For more information about DRI’s cloud seeding program please visit www.dri.edu
About Drone America: Drone America strives to be one of the World’s Top Providers of Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles, and high tech equipment and services. Our mission is to use UAS technologies as means to survey, protect, and preserve human life and strategic resources around the Globe. For more information about Drone America please visit http://droneamerica.com/
About AviSight: AviSight is an aerospace and remote sensing services company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our company employs Aerospace systems, Remote Sensing technology, Analytics, and Data Collection/Distribution systems for commercial and government clients. For more information about AviSight please visit - http://avisight.com/
About the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS): On behalf of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, NIAS helps to grow the Autonomous Systems Industry through business teaming, partnerships, research and development, and education awareness in order to bring in business and jobs to the State of Nevada and to facilitate full and safe UAS integration into the National Airspace System. Learn more at www.nias-uas.com.
Media Contacts:
Justin Broglio
Communications Officer, Desert Research Institute
Ph: (775) 673-7610
Justin.Broglio@dri.edu
@DRIScience
Kevin Clifford
Marketing & Communications Manager, Drone America
Ph: (775) 473-9998
kevin@droneamerica.com
@Drone_America
Chris Walach
Director of Operations—Unmanned Aviation with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) and the FAA-designated Nevada UAS Test Site on behalf of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Ph: (702) 793-4219
chris.walach@nias-uas.com
