19 June
To the Editor:
An article in the 17 June
edition of the Kingsport Times-News discussing the newly formed Fly Wisely
Accelerator Corporation, under the vision of Jack Kennedy, our Circuit Court
Clerk, particularly caught my interest. I quote the following from that
article:
As described by Kennedy, the
accelerator seeks to bring together business/industry, academica and government
to conduct research and development of commercial unmanned aerial systems --
generally called drones, create commercial software and cybersecurity regimes,
seek work force training for commercial unmanned system operators and seek
outside investment in electronics, avionics and sensor manufacturing.
Having
previously served in an Army operational testing unit, I know how important it
is to bring to the table the right stakeholders and decision-makers. Since
moving to Wise four years ago, I’ve often wondered what the future held in
store for our little mountain oasis. I think FWAC is absolutely the best way to
bring about one of these particular avenues, and perhaps much more. Any future
usage of drones will require significant operational testing to prove not only
the safety and security of, but also the reliability and durability of the
product in, and during its intended usage. When we watched as medical supplies
were delivered during this past years Remote Area Medical (RAM) event, we
witnessed history in the making, but there is much more to be done before
corporate America can start dropping boxes at our front doors. Operational
testing requires that we design and develop scenarios which can measure and
assess abilities against known standards. It is in the development of standards
that this working group, based in Wise County, can have significant impact.
Working with the FAA and NASA, big and small businesses, and very possibly a
military liaison, we can help to shape the discussions that will result in the development
of those standards. The FAA likely has regulations ‘out for comment’ currently
and Fly Wisely needs not just a say at that table, they need to be sitting
there talking actively about what Wise County is prepared to assist with.
When
we designed testing scenarios, we also determined where testing should occur
and how many iterations of a test would be accomplished to ensure the
confidence levels required. Wise County has an abundance of ‘open space’ land
that could be perfect for ‘test range’ development. While it takes highly
skilled people to develop scenario-driven testing, it takes a lesser skilled
worker to physically collect the results, retrieve information, and make
on-the-spot adjustments, out in the weeds, when necessary. Developing ranges
that can test all the varied scenarios needed to satisfy the multitude of
requirements will take folks who come with the needed skillsets from the varied
coalfield operations. I continue to see a win-win-win for Wise County through
this Fly Wisely Accel Corp.
It
is a long road to hoe, but when we actively help to design the standards to
which the tools and processes will be used; while helping to create those tools
and perfect the processes, I’d say we would be poised for a wildly successful
endeavor with the opportunity for long term existence that is capable of both
meeting and creating change in an ever more complex world.
Count
me as a Fly Wisely Accelerator Corp supporter. We should all get behind this
and help in whatever way that we can.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Samuel
Boyle
SGM
(R), US Army
Wise,
VA
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