The Pendleton drone range signed its first acclaimed customer, the the U.S. Department of Energy backed Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Federal Aviation Administration designated the Pendleton Unmanned Aerial Systems Range as a drone test site two years ago.
That (commercial) exemption is great for 99 percent of the population, but that’s not going to work for me,’ said Mike Hubbell, the laboratory’s director of flight operations.
Hubbell said the laboratory has been gathering atmospheric measurements with manned aircraft for 30 years, but has taken an interest in using drones for that purposes. It makes the task more efficient and decreases its carbon footprint.
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Owner of OmniFox Aerial Derrick Wetoby told the East Oregonian that this could mean more business prospects for farmers and drone pilots.
