Special waiver makes Alaska the first frontier in drone research

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska has become the first frontier in the drone industry with the new ability to grant permission for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to operate and test with the aim of securing certification for national airspace flight.

The FAA granted the state a Special Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Waiver in early March 2023, according to officials with the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF).

“Alaska is now the only state with the ability to allow UAS operations classified as research or development, including aircraft under 300 pounds, to be conducted in our UAS test-site airspace,” state officials declared.

“This officially establishes Alaska as the leader in research for Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “I am looking forward to seeing how Alaskans support and grow this developing economic sector.”

The waiver allows Alaska to use its largest natural resource — its airspace — as an economic driver, added Ryan Marlow, UAS Program Manager for the State of Alaska.

The waiver enables UAS manufacturers to use Alaska’s airspace for certification purposes. The Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI), at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been granted the authority to oversee the waiver’s implementation.

ACUASI will evaluate the safety of an operator’s unmanned aircraft and related procedures, using its internal processes to ascertain whether a UAS operation can be safely conducted, officials explained. Previously, individuals had to apply for a special airworthiness certificate and request exemption from several regulations, which proved to be a resource-intensive and time-consuming process for both the applicant and the FAA, officials noted.

“We were just handed a tool to help aircraft manufacturers get their drones certified for use,” ACUASI Director Cathy Cahill said. “The FAA is allowing the test site to test and evaluate larger drones under real-world conditions. This will allow us to support the development of a strong drone economy in Alaska and across the nation.”