Bend Council Likes Aerial Drone Testing Proposal

Bend’s City Council is getting behind a proposal to allow testing of unmanned aerial vehicles — commonly known as drones — outside of Bend.  Some say they hope the move could help lift Bend’s economy.

Central Oregon is home to about a half dozen companies involved in manufacturing the various components of drone systems.  But both here and around the country, there’s a shortage of places where they can be tested.

Opening the airspace outside of Bend would require approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Doug Naimo is the founder Triggerfinger Software.

He told the council he works with many manufacturers of drone components that are forced to rely on computer simulation because it’s so difficult to get time in the air.

Doug Naimo: “Everyone that I deal with would be very much inclined to open either satellite offices or to relocate to a situation that would allow them to have complete test evaluation flight and certification programs in a central location.”

Some residents have expressed concern about nurturing an industry so closely intertwined with waging war.

But supporters of the drone testing predict they’ll eventually be used in a number of civilian applications such as search and rescue and law enforcement.