ESCC to use donated unmanned aerial vehicles for science
Ted Shockley
MELFA — Launching unmanned aerial vehicles from the Eastern Shore could be a financial plus for the area, and Eastern Shore Community College is positioning itself for an associated educational and training partnership.
A link between the two was seen recently when an Aerosonde aerial vehicle donated to the college was unveiled in front of a gathering of staff members and industry experts.
“We have something tangible, real, that the students can see,” said College President Linda Thomas-Glover of the unmanned airplane, which from wing to wing was bigger than a typical dining-room table.
The particular model was used for years out of Wallops to gather weather data and has flown into hurricanes, said Jon Borcik, a program manager for AAI Corp., which oversees the Aerosonde program.
He called it a “coming home mission” for the plane, a fitting place for an aircraft based at Wallops to continue its service.
The plane will be used to stimulate an interest in science and also be studied by various college classes.
The donation was arraigned by Peter Bale, board chairman for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and a former program manager for Aerosonde North America at Wallops.
At a Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce annual meeting earlier this year, Bale said a study shows Virginia could see almost 2,400 new jobs and $460 million in economic impact within three years after being allowed to fly in national airspace.
If Wallops were a test site, the college could have a role in preparing the workforce, Glover said.
Glover said the donation “solidifies and strengthens a very special partnership” and compared the tiny plane’s vast capabilities to the small college’s own large impact.
