PNNL in competition for unmanned aircraft test center

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland is competing to operate one of the nation’s six new centers for developing and testing unmanned aircraft.

The Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake would be used as a flight center to advance the use of nonmilitary unmanned aircraft, under a proposal to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Innovate Washington, a state agency, is taking the lead on the proposal, with the cooperation of PNNL and 10 other state, county and private industry partners.

“Starting a new flight center in central Washington will allow the state to build off of the established strengths of its thriving aerospace industry,” said Bart Phillips, Innovate Washington vice president for economic development.

Military drones are the best-known use of unmanned aircraft, but the aircraft have the potential for civilian use, either to save money or to allow flights that could be hazardous.