FAA to look at integrating unmanned aircraft into national airspace

[Eboy]

Facing a number of technical challenges, the Federal Aviation Administration said today it added another research project designed to better understand how unmanned aircraft can be brought safely into the national airspace.

The FAA set a two-year research and development agreement with Insitu - an independent subsidiary of Boeing and the New Jersey Air National Guard that will help FAA scientists to study and better understand unmanned aircraft design, construction and features. Researchers will also look at the differences in how an air traffic controller would manage an unmanned aircraft vs. a manned aircraft.

https://www.networkworld.com/community/node/62271

[Pugilistic Animus]

it seems they already have enough trouble integrating Manned Aircraft:ugh:

[Minesthechevy]

...and next week, we will investigate reports that Mafeking has been relieved.

Given that UAVs have been, er, on the horizon (sorry) for over 20 years, Im surprised that such studies weren't done long ago.

Surprised, and yet unsurprised; once again the folk who get paid to look ahead just haven't.