US aviation regulator the Federal Aviation Administration is running testing for drone-detection detection systems in Cape May, New Jersey from April 14-25.
The testing is being conducted by the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research. The Delaware River Bay Authority Police and other local first responders are also participating.
Several large drones and more than 100 commercial off-the-shelf drones will be operated during the two-weeks. Testing will take place over the water and near the Cape May Ferry Terminal during the daytime on weekdays only. The public has been asked not to fly recreational drones near this area during the test period.
The FAA has been testing drone detection technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations. The tests will help determine the effectiveness of the detection technologies and if they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.
The first of these off-airport tests was done in Alaska earlier this year, and more testing will be done in New Mexico, North Dakota and Mississippi this year.
The FAA said it receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports a month, and emphasized that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal.
Since March 2023 the UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) Detection and Mitigation Systems Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) has been advising the FAA on the introduction and operation of drone detection and mitigation systems.
The ARC made 46 recommendations on ensuring systems do not interfere with the safe and efficient operation of the National Airspace System. We have incorporated many of the recommendations into our work to safely integrate them.