The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will jointly research unmanned aircraft system-assisted cargo transportation to advance the national airspace system.
The Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (MMAC) of the agency and the tribal government will employ urban environments that are simulated virtually to study air traffic control, human factors and supply chain management as part of the organizations' memorandum of understanding, FAA said Monday.
“Our goal is to advance the development and integration of UAS into what is already a complex national airspace system,” said MMAC Director Michelle Coppedge.
The Department of Transportation has named Choctaw Nation as one of the nine active sites for the Unmanned Aerial System Integration Pilot Program that aims to facilitate advanced UAS operations through partnership with the FAA and industry.
Another goal is to encourage students to consider programs related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and possible careers in aerospace.
