The Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Airports Council International North America have formed a task force examining ways to detect, track, identify and mitigate potential threats from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) around airports, Brian Wynne, the head of AUVSI, tells a Senate panel. The establishment of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on UAS Mitigation at Airports follows drone sightings at airports in London and New Jersey that disrupted air traffic last year and this year. “The panel includes a cross-section of stakeholders representing the airport, UAS and manned aviation communities, and will provide recommendation to airports and the federal government to refine procedural practices in response to incursions and provide a policy framework to address this timely and critical issue,” Wynne says.
Customs and Border Protection
plans to award a six-month, $9.5 million contract extension to CAS, Inc. for continued operations and maintenance services of the Tactical Aerostat Systems and Relocatable Towers. The award runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. CBP uses the tactical aerostats and relocatable tower-based surveillance capabilities along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The Transportation Security Administration is issuing a sole source bridge contract to K4 Solutions for the agency’s contact center. TSA says the extension addresses the requirements of its Civil Rights and Liberties Traveler Engagement. The value of the extension wasn’t disclosed.