The Unmanned
Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) Field Test, which will start
in the spring of 2022, will allow the government and the drone community to
continue improving standards, data-exchange methods and cybersecurity
capabilities.
UTM includes a set of services that are complementary to,
but separate from, Air Traffic Management services for manned aircraft. It is
targeted toward small unmanned aircraft operations in airspace, generally
flying below 400 feet, and builds on current rules and capabilities that enable
airspace access and authorization.
The test outcomes will provide the FAA with critical
information to support the development of new policies and for industry
development of updated standards to allow drones to routinely fly beyond visual
line of sight of the operators.
The FAA and its industry partners will conduct multiple
drone flights in realistic test scenarios to learn more about how to manage
drone traffic in varying environments. The flight tests will examine how the
latest capabilities and standards will work to support the operations in the
real world.
