UAS operations in Australia to be studied by Northrop Grumman, RMIT University
NewsMay 13, 2014
Northrop Grumman, RMIT University Studying Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Australia
ORLANDO, FL. Northrop Grumman Corp. officials are joining hands with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, to look at airworthiness requirements for operating unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) in Australia. the announcement was made at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems show in Orlando this week.
The collaboration will involve developing solutions for safely and efficiently operating UAS in all airspace environments with a specific focus on larger systems that are the size of small commercial jets. Back in 2001 Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk UAS became the first unmanned, powered aircraft to cross the Pacific Ocean in a flight of more than 23-hour duration from Southern California to Adelaide, Australia. Global Hawk also was the first UAS to meet U.S. military airworthiness certification, along with obtaining a certificate of authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, recognizing the system's ability to routinely fly within national airspace.
RMIT's Sir Lawrence Wackett Aerospace Research Centre is dedicated to aerospace in Australia and has expertise in the design, manufacture, and certification of advanced aerospace systems.
