Unmanned Flight Drones Could Soon Be Buzzing Around Wasatch Front
By Chris Miller
(KUTV) Drones could soon be buzzing around the Wasatch Front. The FAA would like colleges to become the new test sites for the growing industry of unmanned flight, and Utah Valley University is aggressively pursuing the prospect.
Wayne Dornan, the Dean of Aviation at UVU makes one important distinction, he says we’re not talking about military attack drones or surveillance drones. “We don’t use the ‘d’ word. We call them unmanned aircraft systems,” said Dornan, adding that unmanned aircraft tested at UVU will be for domestic use.
UVU boasts one of the largest flight training programs in the country; Dornan thinks it’s fitting the school should be selected as one of just six drone testing institutions across the country. “It is incredibly competitive, it’s going to be a hard fight for us to get it, we’re going to need as much support as we can get,” said Dornan, who’s very passionate about this subject because his school stands to benefit greatly. “Just about every state wants to be one of their award recipients.”
