On Tuesday, June 27th at 9am the Aeronautical Center (MMAC) hosted its quarterly virtual Tech Talk. Over 350 participants tuned in virtually to listen to this online forum. The topic for the virtual seminar was "Unlocking Potential: Integrating Drones into Our Airspace System." The lead presenter was Eli Velazquez, Manager of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operations from the Air Traffic Organization in Oklahoma City, along with his colleague, Shawn C. Tufts, a member of the UAS Operations Team in Florida.
"We are very pleased to have their level of expertise in our agency, as their work is proficient across the entire National Airspace System," explains Michelle Coppedge, Director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. "We have seen their collaborative efforts with universities like the University of Oklahoma and industry professionals like Choctaw Nation, helping to push the boundaries of these emerging aviation technologies," says Coppedge.
Eli Velazquez began his career in the FAA with an internship and eventually became a contractor. He is a first-generation graduate and earned a B.S. from the University of Oklahoma in Electrical Engineering. He has worked in Second Level Engineering Technical Support for the National Airspace Communications Systems. Because of his growing level of expertise, he has become a subject matter expert to senior engineers. He has also helped to lead an international agreement between the FAA and Mexico, establishing the first ever FAA Communications facility on Mexican soil.
Mr. Velazquez began the meeting by addressing the main way to be a leader (by being innovative). It is the FAA’s goal to keep the National Airspace System (NAS) operating safely and efficiently. As Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) continue to become more and more important, the FAA has set up a team to research technologies and to help execute missions on behalf of the agency. Upon set up, the team quickly realized that one of the largest challenges was to determine how drones can solve problems in the NAS. After establishing various collaborative stakeholders and developing several use case workgroups, the team started field testing. The tests helped to assess risks. The University of Oklahoma became a partner for testing lab models and even testing them on the grounds of the Aeronautical Center.
Eli discussed the importance of using drones for crisis response and emergency operations - such was the case with Hurricane Ida in Louisiana (2021). The team realized that drones could assist in surveying the impact before sending in any first responders. The use of drones now help to maintain and troubleshoot the NAS and the environment. As different missions began to be revealed where drones could be used, the team was tasked with establishing technical requirements, and using the right drone for specific needs, while keeping safety as the highest priority. This led to a huge jump in data management, factoring in cyber and security requirements while standing up an assortment of solutions.
Velazquez noted that his team does not operate their own drones as it would be challenging and costly. Instead, they look for qualified and experienced vendors who have the right capabilities for the payload desired. They are looking for consistent processes and procedures, with vendors who have firsthand knowledge to maximize efficiencies. Using digital twins has become an effective means when providing field maintenance. The team must factor in physical areas that are considered unsafe, looking at areas that aid decision-makers in helping to validate acceptance criteria of new infrastructure and establishing a baseline of commissioned infrastructure. As an example, it might involve flying over structures to determine their rust level, any leaks, status of a tower, condition of the roof, etc.
Shawn Tufts, a member of the FAA’s UAS Operations Team has worked for 16 years in the field of aviation and had served time in the military.
Velazquez exclaims, "In order to enable new technologies, you must understand the interworking of the NAS, and Shawn does. His diverse expertise in the Enterprise Information Management (EIM) platform, IT and Cybersecurity brings a lot to our team including his contributions to 3D modeling and improving the use of resources and safety."
Kevin O’Connor, Deputy Director of the Mike Monroney Aeronautical shared, "This is an exciting topic of research, especially knowing that each of us will be affected by this technology in the near future as it becomes a part of the NAS."
