Oklahoma’s Choctaw Nation is one of ten groups picked by the U.S. Transportation Department to carry out an FAA drone testing program for the next three years.
Choctaw chief Gary Batton was one hand in Washington this week, shaking hands with Transportation Secretar ElaineChao after she made the announcement.
“We realize that this technology has the potential to change our daily lives in many positive ways,” said the Chief. “This will enable and foster technology and creativity in a safe environment.”
The tribe was picked out of more than 200 other tribal, state and city governments that applied for the pilot program. Now the tribe will work with private companies to test drones.
Secretary Chao said the program will lead to the development of safely integrating drones into controlled airspace.
“We are looking forward to helping today’s winners unlock the enormous potentialof drone operations which will create new services and jobs in their local communities,” said Chao.
The drone testing sites will be in Olahoma, Calfironia, Nevada, North Dakota, North Carolina, Kansas, Alaska, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. The drone integration testing will focus on search and rescue of stranded motorists, exploration of infrastructure inspecton and remote safety assessment applications for transportation nationwide.
In Kansas, the