![](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fairbanks_International_Airport-300x152.jpg)
RadioKAOS, CC BY-SA 3.0
ACUASI Demonstrates Airport to Airport Drone Delivery in Alaska
by DRONELIFE Staff Author Ian J. McNabb
The Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration recently accomplished a very important milestone in the event of a neighborhood drone industry when their SeaHunter drone accomplished an uncrewed flight from Nenana Airport all of the method to the Fairbanks International Airport, a 45-mile journey. Conducted by a University of Alaska Fairbanks research center, the test flight, (the primary airport-to-airport UAV trip within the state), was designed to indicate latest ways to integrate UAVs into business air operations. ACUASI, a division of the UAF Geophysical Institute, had previously run loop routes out of Fairbanks International to practice departures, arrivals, and runway approach practice.
The Airport to Airport Drone Delivery Demonstration
“These are among the first steps for drone deliveries across Alaska,” ACUASI Deputy Director Nick Adkins said of Friday’s flight. “With the control tower at FAI and a route along the Tanana River, the drone and support team encountered just about all of what is required to fly from Fairbanks to Galena, for instance. A flight like this permits testing and proving of command and control links, aircraft capability, detect and avoid technologies, controlled and uncontrolled airport operations, and integration of the drones and crew into the National Airspace System.”
The SeaHunter is a twin-engine, 299-lb UAV with a 16-foot wingspan. It carries enough fuel to run for over 10 hours. Resulting from FAA regulations, the test flight required using a chase vehicle, on this case a Robinson-44 helicopter. At Fairbanks Airport, the drone was required to integrate with local air-traffic control systems, but at Nenena, which is a smaller airport, it used common radio frequencies to signal to other local pilots in the realm.
![airport to airport drone delivery](https://dronelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SeaHunterNenanaFAI.jpeg)
The SeaHunter drone of the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration flies to Fairbanks International Airport from Nenana on Sept. 8, 2023. Photo by Nick Adkins
“What we’re doing is demonstrating that drones can and can have the ability to integrate into normal operations at airports,” Adkins said.
UAF is one among seven FAA-designated unmanned aircraft systems test sites established to develop and test drone technology. ACUASI also sponsored the primary Global Autonomous Systems Conference last month in Anchorage. The 2024 conference is scheduled for Aug. 13-15 and can again be held at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center.
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