The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting a market survey for support services in two areas, the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in airport applications and for countering drones in airport environments.
The current support to the FAA in these areas is done by General Dynamics’ [GD] Information Technology segment. The agency hasn’t developed an acquisition strategy yet for the upcoming procurement of the support services, which will include program management and technical expertise to support the UAS and counter UAS (CUAS) requirements.
The market survey follows two solicitations in the past month from the FAA, one for airports to participate in its UAS Detection and Mitigation Research Program and the other a call for white papers to identify eligible manufacturers and integrators of UAS detection and mitigation technologies and systems to support the Detection and Mitigation Research Program.
For the CUAS task area, the support contractor will help the FAA meet its obligations under a 2018 bill passed by Congress that directs the agency to test UAS detection and mitigation technologies and systems at five airports, the market survey says.
Most of the testing of detection and mitigation technologies will take place in a controlled setting at Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) to establish baseline conditions. Afterward, the testing program will expand to four additional airports.
The testing at ACY will lead to an initial draft technical performance standard. Once the testing at the additional airports is completed, “this effort will culminate in performance standards and best practices for the selection and deployment of UAS detection and mitigation technologies/systems in the airport environment,” says a statement of work included in the market survey. “In addition, this effort will also help inform airports and federal and state agencies of technical, operational, and safety considerations associated with selected and deploying UAS detection and mitigation technologies/systems, and possibly define usability requirements and responses within the vicinity of an airport.”
For airport applications of UAS, the support contractor will help the FAA with the research, testing and evaluation of integrating drones into the nation’s airports. The FAA has identified six core applications of UAS in the airport environment, with priority given to identifying obstructions, airfield pavement inspections, wildlife hazard management, perimeter security, aircraft rescue and firefighting, and other related UAS airport safety applications and integration program planning.
“Historically, airfield activities such as obstruction analysis, pavement inspection, wildlife hazard management, perimeter security inspections, and emergency response, and other airport safety related applications have primarily been conducted on the ground,” the work statement says. “However, aerial observations and measurements offer opportunities to increase the efficiency of routine assessments, as well as an unprecedented viewpoint during emergencies. The gradual integration of UAS into the airport environment could supplement or even replace the need for many ground-based procedures.”
Responses to the survey are due by Oct. 16.