WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) applauded the announcement today by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that Virginia Tech’s unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) test site program is now operational. The test site will  conduct research on integrating UAS, commonly known as drones, into the nation’s airspace. Sen. Warner has long advocated for the testing and development of UAS technology in Virginia, and in 2012, worked with colleagues to urge the selection of the mid-Atlantic region for a UAS site. The Virginia Tech site is one of six sites across the country. 

"Today is an important milestone for Virginia Tech and the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership,” Sen. Warner said. “UAS is a growing industry with huge economic growth potential and limitless applications from agriculture to law enforcement to disaster response. Today's declaration puts Virginia on the map as a leader in the field, and means we can get down to business on the vital research that MAAP was selected to do."