Cape May UAS Conference

On October 13-14, the 2nd Annual Cape May NJ UAS Conference, will feature the top federal legislative and regulatory officials, industry and academic experts, as well as the many busi- ness applications and opportunities for this emerging technology in a comprehensive two day conference agenda. The Cape May UAS Conference, which will take place at the Cape May Convention Hall, is hosted by the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA), Cape May County, and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) – Liberty Chapter.

Congressman Frank LoBiondo, Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Represen- tatives, will be joined by Maj. General (Ret.) Marke “Hoot” Gibson, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Senior Advisor on UAS Integration, to provide a keynote address on their continuing efforts to safely integrate commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – or “drones” – into the national air space.

“The growth of the drone industry over the past few years coupled with the widely-successful UAS symposium in Cape May last fall reaffirms why South Jersey continues to lead the way in research, testing and deploying unmanned technology. I appreciate FAA’s Hoot Gibson for agreeing to return this year and look forward to the diversity of expertise that the other speakers, including FAA Tech Center Director Shelley Yak, will bring to this event,” said LoBiondo, chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee.

“I really enjoyed my visit to Cape May for last year’s UAS Conference and I’ve been genuinely impressed with the quality and quantity of work that has taken place in Cape May during that time,” Gibson said. “I look forward to speaking about the FAA’s successes and challenges of the past year and providing an update on the integration efforts related to this rapidly evolving technology.”

An important part of the conference focuses on connecting UAS companies with local businesses who may want to incorporate UAS technology into their operations. “UAS technology has exciting local applications – something that we want to promote to our business community,” said Cape May County Freeholder Will Morey who also is an experienced commercial rated pilot and certified flight instructor. “Whether you’re a real estate agent looking for great aerial shots of a marquee property, an engineering firm surveying a challenging topography or maybe a utility company assessing damage from a storm, UAS technology can be that cost effective answer to a business need. Cape May County has a great working relationship with DRBA officials and we’re working toward the common goal of creating an environment conducive for UAS innovation and development at the Cape May County Airport.”

Another critical aspect of the conference focuses on the current legislative and regulatory measures to safely integrate drones into our national airspace. “As both the operator of critical infrastructure and a potential end user of UAS technology, the DRBA is uniquely positioned to understand both the economic development potential of drones and the need to safely and efficiently incorporate them into our airspace,” said Scott A. Green, DRBA Executive Director. “The potential of this technology is limitless, but we need to find that proper balance between ensuring safe operations and promoting growth of this industry. The key players who are leading that effort will be here at this conference.”

The 2nd Annual Cape May NJ UAS Conference is a direct result of ongoing collaboration between industry, academic and government partners to promote UAS innovation and integration at Cape May County Airport (KWWD). This year’s conference provides new educational programs and more networking opportu- nities within the diverse UAS community to promote the continued growth of emerging technologies in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. The Conference kicks off on Thursday evening with a world premiere drone movie followed on Friday by a drone race expo – both produced by Randy Scott Slavin, creator of the New York City Drone Film Festival and the Liberty Cup drone race.

Along with LoBiondo and Gibson, some of the confirmed speakers and presenters include Shelley Yak, Director of the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center; Dr. Mark Contarino, Vice President of Technology, SubUAS LLC; Eric Smith, Esq., aviation attorney with Kaplan, Kirsch & Rockwell; Jeff Sassinsky, President, Fovea Aero Systems LLC; Tony Samaritano, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Verge Aero; Tony Lasure, Chief Executive Officer of Pentagon Performance Inc. David Day, Executive Vice President of Keystone Aviation