According to a report by the Dayton Daily News, zeal for a top role in the unmanned aircraft arena has prompted the Dayton Development Coalition to try to garner support within Congress and the FAA for new airspace near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to fly UAVs. “Having compatible airspace, that’s the Holy Grail, that’s the key to breaking into having a significant chunk of the UAV industry,” said Joe Zeis, chief strategist and a DDC vice president. So far, reports the newspaper, the FAA is “cool to the idea.”
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.