The Federal Aviation Administration plans to choose six test sites by the end of 2013 for evaluating how to integrate drones into the national airspace, The Sun Journal reported Thursday.Sue Book writes that 25 airfield operators from 24 U.S. states have applied with the agency to host the commercial drone integration tests.
The FAA reportedly will test some drones that are smaller and simpler than the MQ-8B and Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing unmanned platforms.
Book reports the agency is crafting guidelines to address potential safety concerns about using drones in congested or populated areas.
Currently, there are 535 entities authorized by FAA to fly unmanned aerial vehicles for search and rescue, border patrol and research applications, according to the article.
