NASA will host a media teleconference at 1:00 p.m. PDT (4:00 p.m. EDT) Thursday, June 28, to discuss the preliminary results from the June 12 flight of NASA’s remotely-piloted Ikhana aircraft, based at the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, flying in the National Airspace System without a safety chase aircraft.
Flying in the specific airspace. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted NASA special permission to conduct this flight under the authority of a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization on March 30. The certificate permitted Ikhana’s pilot to rely on the latest Detect and Avoid technology, enabling the pilot to see and avoid other aircraft during the flight. This historic flight moves the United States one step closer to normalizing unmanned aircraft operations in the airspace used by commercial and private pilots.
Participants in the teleconference will include:
- Sam Kim, UAS-NAS Project, Integrated Test and Evaluation Project Engineer (NASA)
- Randy Willis, manager, Emerging Technologies Team (FAA) (Federal Aviation Administration)
- Fabrice Kuniz, detect and avoid lead (General Atomics – Aeronautical Systems, Inc.)
The teleconference is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m PDT. The event will begin with a 15 minute briefing by NASA, FAA and General Atomics, followed by a question and answer section.
To participate, media must email their name and affiliation to Rebecca Richardson at Rebecca.a.richardson@nasa.gov or call 661-276-2514.
Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at:
The teleconference and visuals will be carried live and archived on:
To ask questions via social media during the televised event, use the hashtag #askNASA
For more information about NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/armstrong
-NASA-
For more information, contact:
Rebecca Richardson
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
661) 276-2514
rebecca.a.richardson@nasa.gov