A
partnership with NASA has enabled Google to test-fly its drones in US
airspace, dodging federal aviation regulations. Citing current rules
as too restrictive, several US tech companies have conducted their
drone research elsewhere.
While Amazon
used a research facility in Vancouver just across the US border in
Canada, Google tested its Project Wing drones in Australia. However,
Google seems to have also tested its drones on US soil, using a
partnership with NASA to obtain certificates of authorization (COA)
to skirt restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), according to the Guardian’s Mark Harris.
Though both
NASA and Google declined to comment on the arrangement, the Guardian
says it obtained a document in which NASA said it might issue COAs to
conduct “joint field tests” of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
FAA regulations allow government agencies to invoke COAs for UAS
testing if they are the exclusive owners or operators of the drones.
Commercial operations are prohibited.
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