- **Key Points:**
- The FAA will be conducting drone detection tests over Cape May, New Jersey, using both large drones and commercial off-the-shelf drones.
- The testing will take place during the daytime only and will last for 11 days, starting on a Monday.
- The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research will be conducting the tests over the water and the Cape May Ferry Terminal.
- The testing will help determine the effectiveness of drone detection technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.
“The agency has been testing drone detection technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations. These tests will help determine the effectiveness of these technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems,” said ASSURE in a statement.
- **Why is the FAA testing drone detection technology?**
- The FAA has been experiencing a significant increase in drone sightings near airports, with over 100 sightings reported every month.
- The agency has been testing drone detection technologies at airports for several years, but is expanding its testing to off-airport locations.
- The program was previously conducted in New Mexico, North Dakota, and Mississippi.
The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research will be conducting the drone detection tests over Cape May, using both large drones and commercial off-the-shold drones. The testing will take place during the daytime only and will last for 11 days, starting on a Monday. The FAA has stated that the testing will help determine the effectiveness of drone detection technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.
People are asked not to fly recreational drones in the area during the testing period. The FAA has been testing drone detection technologies for several years, but is expanding its testing to off-airport locations. The program was previously conducted in New Mexico, North Dakota, and Mississippi. The goal of the testing is to determine the effectiveness of these technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.
- **Notable Examples:**
- The FAA conducted a similar test in New Mexico last year, where they used large drones to test drone detection technologies.
- In Mississippi, the FAA tested drone detection technologies using commercial off-the-shelf drones.
- The testing in North Dakota was also conducted using both large and commercial off-the-shelf drones.
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| Cape May, NJ | The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research will be conducting drone detection tests over the water and the Cape May Ferry Terminal. |
| New Mexico | The FAA previously conducted a test using large drones to test drone detection technologies. |
| North Dakota | The FAA tested drone detection technologies using both large and commercial off-the-shelf drones. |
| Mississippi | The FAA tested drone detection technologies using commercial off-the-shelf drones. |
The testing in Cape May will be conducted during the daytime only, and people are asked not to fly recreational drones in the area during the testing period. The FAA has stated that the testing will help determine the effectiveness of drone detection technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.
“Drone frenzy” was experienced in New Jersey in November and December, with hundreds of drone sightings reported. The FAA had to put no-fly zones in effect over much of the state, including President Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster. Trump eventually explained the reason for the sightings in a statement, stating that there was nothing to indicate the drones were a national security threat and that they were being used for lawful purposes, including by the FAA “for research and various other reasons.”
The testing in Cape May is part of a larger effort by the FAA to improve its ability to detect and respond to drones in the national airspace. The agency has been working to develop new technologies and techniques to improve drone detection and mitigation, and the testing in Cape May will be an important step in this process.
The FAA has stated that the testing will help determine the effectiveness of drone detection technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems. The testing will be conducted using both large drones and commercial off-the-shelf drones, and will take place during the daytime only.
- Drone detection technology:
- A system used to detect and identify drones in the national airspace.
- UAS (Unmanned Aerial System):
- A system that uses a drone to carry a payload, such as a camera or sensor.
The FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research will be conducting the testing in Cape May, and people are asked not to fly recreational drones in the area during the testing period.
