NMSU, FAA Sign Pact Making School A Test Center

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – New Mexico State University and the Federal Aviation Administration have signed a cooperative research and development agreement centering on unmanned aircraft systems.

Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici says the agreement will help establish NMSU as the primary test center for unmanned aircraft systems.

The agreement will create an unmanned aircraft systems Flight Test Center for government and private research, development and testing of unmanned systems. That includes designated air space in southern New Mexico to carry out the work safely.

The Physical Sciences Laboratory since 1999 has operated the Unmanned Aerial Systems Technical Analysis and Applications Center to promote safely integrating such unmanned craft into national airspace.

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