Panda Meander teams 5K run, talent show
April 2, 2007Hazel Pitre
April 4, 2007
Discussion about implementing unmanned aircraft at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport highlighted the Airport Commission meeting, last Wednesday afternoon.
Earl Hicks, director of planning and development for the airport commission, outlined his hopes in a presentation to the commission and area leaders.
The centerpiece of the plan is to bring to Houma unmanned aerial systems, or UAS technology. Largely popular for their use in wars, Hicks stressed the significance of its uses for homeland security and expanding ability to study Louisiana’s coast, amongst other things.
“It usually has military application,” said Hicks, “But again, it does have quite a bit of range.”
So how exactly does the UAS “fit Houma?”
Hicks answered that question by saying, “It fits us from homeland security. In particular the fact that 27 percent of all of oil and gas that flows in the coastal United States goes through Louisiana.
“It also fits us in that it … has the ability to map deadzones and other areas within the Gulf of Mexico.”
To bring it to Houma, Hicks said the airport would have to get a Certificate of Authorization (COA) to fly unmanned aircraft in manned airspace.
To get the COA, Hicks said the airport would work with New Mexico State University, because they were the first organization to develop the model to receive a COA. “We visited with those people some time ago,” said Hicks. “And we’re going to go back very soon and get with them, and get the COA to do a demonstration later this year here at the Houma-Terrebonne Airport to fly a UAS here.”
After getting the COA, the airport would be able to start UAS development. “In August of 2006, the Airport Commission … set aside 164 acres of property,” said Hicks, “for UAS development. This is where the companies that we hope to attract to our area will set up their operations.”
Bringing UAS technology to Houma would help Houma to be a part of the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI), which is 1,000 times faster than the typical broadband Internet network.
Through LONI, information gathered by the UAS technology could be electronically sent to schools and research centers throughout the nation, including Nicholls State University and L.E. Fletcher Community College.
The Houma-Terrebonne Airport Commission continues to expand. Among the latest additions under consideration is an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Largely used by the U.S. Department of Defense, the crafts could also be used to study Louisiana’s coast, said Earl Hicks, director of planning and development for the airport commission.
