Southwest Border Demonstration

A Southwest Border Demonstration was conducted from 10 to 16 December 2004 from the Las Cruces International Airport by the New Mexico State University Physical Science Laboratory (NMSU/PSL) Technical Analysis and Applications Center (TAAC). The successful demonstration was a true team effort managed by TAAC, with support provided by SAIC, General Dynamics, and Brandes Associates, Inc. Day and night unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight operations featuring the "Aerostar" were conducted in the airspace of the southwest border region. The Aerostar has a 20-ft wingspan, with a length of 14 ft and features a dual tail. The airframe is powered by a single propeller-driven, two-stroke gasoline engine. Fuel capacity is 15 gallons of aviation-grade gasoline. It has the capability of flying mission lengths as long as 14 hours. The UAV is fitted with redundant electrical systems consisting of an engine-driven alternator and backup battery. It also features a transponder with Mode C altitude reporting capability, one anti-collision light, and wingtip position lights. The Aerostar has a payload capacity of 140 lbs, and the payload on-board was a CONTROP Precision Technologies DSP-1 EO/IR sensor system. The DSP-1 is a high-performance, stabilized dual-sensor system, which performed superbly during both day and night operations.

The demonstration was designed around civil UAV applications to demonstrate safe UAV flights in national air-space from an uncontrolled airport. An incremental approach was used, with each mission becoming more complex. The scenarios were designed to highlight the enhanced operational capabilities offered by UAVs and demonstrate their application to the various civil, emergency, and law enforcement missions currently performed in the southwest border region and elsewhere. A variety of scenarios were conducted during both day and night flights, including line observation, wide-area search, and specific location observation. The line surveillance included roads, railroad tracks, and power line observations. The wide-area search included desert, mountains, ranches/farms, and involved searching for vehicles and people as would occur during search and rescue or other civil applications.

All mission objectives were accomplished, and all flights occurred safely following the FARs and stipulations of the Certificate of Waiver and Authorization. The procedures for conducting UAV operations from an uncontrolled airport were refined and documented. Local, state, and federal agencies participated in the planning and execution of the operations. Airport operations were conducted routinely without incident. A method to distribute real-time video imagery to remote locations was implemented and tested. More border operations are planned, as well as trans-oceanic flights, including the states of Hawaii, and Alaska as mission end points.