Category: News

Today, PACI’s Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Daniels testified to the House Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations on “Opportunity Rising: the FAA’s New Regulatory Framework for Commercial Drone Operations.”

Small business owners told a key Congressional subcommittee today that new federal regulation that allows commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems, otherwise known as drones or UAS, are opening up the skies and opportunities for new jobs and economic growth. However, effective and efficient implementation of the rule and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) next steps to fully and safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system are critical to the industry’s success. The FAA projects that 90 percent of drone owners will be small businesses making clear and sensible regulation essential as these entrepreneurs try to get startups off the ground and improve existing small businesses day-to-day operations through the use of this technology.

Watch the full video here (Mr. Daniels’ testimony starts at 28:53)

For more information from Representative Hardy (NV-R), read this press release here.

Next Tuesday, the U.S. House’s Small Business Committee is holding a hearing entitled “Opportunity Rising: the FAA’s New Regulatory Framework for Commercial Drone Operations.”

Taking place at 11:00 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., the hearing will include the following witnesses: Gabriel Dobbs, vice president of business development and policy at Kespry Inc. (testifying on behalf of the Small UAV Coalition); Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International; and Jonathan Daniels, president of Praxis Aerospace Concepts International Inc.

The original and full article from Unmanned Aerial Online can be found here.

The Clark County Fire Department has received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate a small “unmanned aircraft systems”– commonly referred to as a drone. This is the first Certificate of Authorization approved in Nevada under the FAA’s new “Public Safety Blanket COA” process.

Under the leadership of Chief Gregory Cassell, CCFD initiated this application as part of a visionary program to use UAS to address specific challenges of fire service response. This is the first UAS COA for CCFD, and is supported by Praxis Aerospace Concepts International as the COA-designated Point of Contact.

CCFD’s innovative approach integrates small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) support into firefighting missions such as hazardous materials spill response, public safety, life preservation missions, gathering photographic and video images over disaster scenes and fire areas, and training missions. Initial operations will focus on training firefighter flight crews and validating procedures for the department.

Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. is best known in the unmanned systems industry for its White Label services, supporting FAA UAS Test Sites, Universities and corporate partners with Robotics Management, Technical Services and Autonomous Technology Testing. PACI is a partner of ASSURE, the FAA’s UAS Center of Excellence. “UAS integration into emergency response operations will save time, resources and money while keeping firefighters safer than ever before,” said Jonathan Daniels, CEO, Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. “Chief Cassell and his staff at CCFD have been a fantastic proponent during the development of this program over the last year”.

Watch local news coverage “Clark County Fire Department receives drone license from FAA” with additional information here

HENDERSON, NV –(Marketwired – April 04, 2016) – Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. today announced it has entered into a partnership with the New York UAS Test Site, Griffiss International Airport, to provide the Test Site additional expertise as they accomplish requirements toward their support of NASA. The goal of which is to help integrate unmanned air vehicles into the world around us. 

NASA has invited test sites to participate in NASA activities, as well as to encourage teaming across test sites to gain cost efficiencies and maximize research data that will be delivered to NASA. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System project, or UAS in the NAS, will contribute capabilities designed to reduce technical barriers related to safety and operational challenges associated with enabling routine UAS access to the NAS. Subsequently, Oneida County has been awarded a 5 year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract for future NASA task orders. These Task Orders may require Praxis participation and expertise toward their accomplishment.

Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. is best known in the unmanned systems industry for its White Label services, supporting FAA UAS Test Sites, Universities and corporate partners with Robotics Management, Technical Services and Autonomous Technology Testing. PACI is a partner of ASSURE, the FAA’s UAS Center of Excellence. “We are very excited to work with Oneida County and Griffiss International Airport,” said Jonathan Daniels, CEO, Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. “Teaming up with the New York UAS Test Site to engage in NASA’s UAS in the NAS research is an exciting development for our company.”

“Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. is a great partner and this partnership reflects our desire to collaborate with companies such as Praxis that have the excellent reputation and expertise within the UAS community and share our commitment to the growth of the UAS industry locally, at the Nevada Drone Port and nationally,” said Anthony J. Picente, Jr., Oneida County Executive and Operator of the New York UAS Test Site, Griffiss International Airport. The New York UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport is known for successfully testing UAS from small category to a full scale fixed wing aircraft and it’s state of the art range instrumentation system that combines the SRC LSTAR 3-d Radar and the Saab Sensis WAM sensors as well as the soon to be added X-Band Surface Movement Radar. 

About Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc.

Founded in 2011, PACI is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business based in Southern Nevada. The company’s mission is to develop practical solutions for multi-modal (ground-air-sea-industrial) robotics and unmanned systems (UxS) using a mix of proprietary technology, unique team domain expertise, and unique partnerships, PACI can develop and operate laboratory and field facilities for autonomous systems research, development, test, evaluation, deployment, commercialization, and training. Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. currently serves over 20 clients with military, public and civil robotics/unmanned systems across the globe. For more information about Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc., visit its website at www.praxisaerospace.com.

About New York UAS Test Site, Griffiss International Airport

The NY FAA Designated UAS Test Site at Griffiss International Airport is operated by Oneida County through its Department of Aviation. It is one of six Test Sites nationwide designated by the FAA. 

Additionally, clients have access to a system of data collection provided by range instrumentation that will consist of LSTAR, surface movement radar and WAM sensors. The data collected is provided to the client as well as safety data that is provided to the FAA. For more information about the NY UAS Test Site and Griffiss International Airport, please visit the website at http://ocgov.net

Read the full article on Yahoo Finance here

Seeking to benefit from the anticipated, widespread commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) nationwide, Nevadans have been working diligently to cultivate an industry around this type of aircraft.

Nevada is one of six states designated as FAA UAS test sites, or places for research and development and creation of technological strategies for integrating UAS into the NAS. The Silver State has nearly 40 centers where testing can occur. They include the four originals—Reno Stead Airport, Fallon Municipal Airport, Boulder City Municipal Airport and the Desert Rock Airstrip.

“Even if we only see 10 percent or are only able to capture 10 percent of that market, that’s $9 billion,” said Tom Wilczek, the defense and aerospace industry representative at the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “We absolutely see a value added in terms of developing a cluster in Nevada specific to UAV development. It’s a new chapter in Nevada.”

Read the full article from Nevada Business Magazine at this link here

The FAA will support seven public meetings during August and September, 2015. These meetings will be hosted by the six unmanned aircraft system (UAS) Test Sites and UAS Center of Excellence (COE). The purpose of these meetings is to discuss innovation and opportunities at the Test Sites and COE. PACI was awarded the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) contract to support this meeting on July 27, 2015.

On December 30, 2013, the FAA selected six UAS Test Sites. This selection was Congressionally-mandated by section 332 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95). The FAA is working closely with the Test Sites to guide research programs toward specific goals such as System Safety & Data Gathering, Aircraft Certification, Command & Control Link Issues, Control Station Layout & Certification, Ground & Airborne Sense & Avoid, and Environmental Impacts that will help the FAA safely integrate UAS into the national airspace system.

On May 8, 2015, the FAA selected a Mississippi State University team as the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS). The COE will focus on research, education, and training in areas critical to safe and successful integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace.

PACI is the only Southern Nevada company to be partnered with the FAA’s UAS COE’s External Advisory Board. 

The State of Nevada UAS Test Site meeting will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015 From 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Clark County Commission Chambers, 1st floor 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy Las Vegas, Nevada

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss innovation and opportunities at the Test Sites and COE. The Test Sites and COE will host and set the agenda for each public meeting. The meetings will aid both public and private sector stakeholders to better understand the value the Test Sites and COE provide in furthering UAS integration through research, development, and operational testing.

About Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc.

Founded in 2011, PACI is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business based in Southern Nevada. The company’s mission is to develop practical solutions for multi-modal (ground-air-sea-industrial) robotics and unmanned systems (UxS) using a mix of proprietary technology, unique team domain expertise, and unique partnerships, PACI can develop and operate laboratory and field facilities for autonomous systems research, development, test, evaluation, deployment, commercialization, and training. Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc. currently serves over 20 clients with military, public and civil robotics/unmanned systems across the globe. For more information about Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Inc., visit its website at www.praxisaerospace.com.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released new regulations for flying Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Under the new broad area Certificate of Authorization (COA), small UAS weighing less than 55 lbs. can be flown up to 200 feet above ground level nearly anywhere in the country. The flights must be conducted in partnership with one of the seven FAA test sites during daylight and maintain visual line of sight with a pilot.

UAS companies are still required to partner with a test site and each test site will conduct safety and airworthiness checks on the UAS being flown. However, the flight locations are not restricted to the test site’s regional footprint.

Read more about the impact of the FAA’s newest COA on the UASTS here

WASHINGTON – After a rigorous competition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a Mississippi State University team as the FAA’s Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (COE UAS). The COE will focus on research, education and training in areas critical to safe and successful integration of UAS into the nation’s airspace.

The Alliance for System Safety of UAS Through Research Excellence, or ASSURE, team is comprised of 13 universities and over 90 industry partners, providing the FAA with access to a team of scientists in the UAS community and coordination of activities to achieve common goals.

PACI is the only Southern Nevada industry partner of ASSURE.Access to the national airspace is a vital enabler for commercial and public safety UAS programs.

The COE research areas are expected to evolve over time, but initially will include: detect and avoid technology; low-altitude operations safety; control and communications; spectrum management; human factors; compatibility with air traffic control operations; and training and certification of UAS pilots and other crewmembers, in addition to other areas.

Read the FAA press release here