Small Drones Approvals for USMA Academics

West Point received official delegation to certify airworthiness of its academic drones from the AMCOM Commanding General, MG Gabram, who serves as the Army Airworthiness Authority. The delegation marks the final milestone in USMA achieving wide flexibility with legal authority to operate small drones in support of its academic mission. It places West Point in leading position to conduct rapid small drone research, development, and flight testing. This flexibility is key to success in the numerous student capstone projects which employ drones. The Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) department took the lead for the academy to establish the safe, effective, and legal process to operate drones that is now in place.