North Carolina is known for being “first in flight,” and
Currituck County hopes that the state will also be “first in drones.” Currituck
County officials are hopeful Hyde County is successful in its bid to become
North Carolina’s first approved drone aircraft launching
site.
Hyde County recently submitted a bid to host drones, or
unmanned aircraft, launches at Hyde’s remote airport along highway 264.
Currituck North Carolina hopes Hyde County is successful because the boom in
the aviation and defense industries is expected. This would allow Currituck
County officials to recruit contractors and companies to locate to Currituck
North Carolina.
Currituck County also has a current defense-contractor
industry, with companies like National Technology Associates and Cutting Edge
Tactical, to name a few located in Currituck North Carolina. Currituck County officials say that
opportunities for synergy and growth exist at the COA Regional Aviation and
Tech Training Center and Currituck County Regional Airport.
The drones for the military would be tested in Hyde County,
which is south of Currituck County in Eastern North Carolina. North Carolina’s
Division of Aviation is seeking a permit to create a 3-mile long testing area
at the airport. Currituck North Carolina and surrounding
areas are expected to see a boost in the economies of the respected counties if
this plan is approved.
As part of the project, Elizabeth City State University,
near Currituck County, would expand its engineering program to include
designing and building remotely piloted aircraft. Currituck County officials
say programs like this will further help raise Currituck North Carolina’s
profile in the aviation and defense industries.
If approved, North Carolina would become the first state on
the East Coast with a testing site. The FAA will choose six sites to test the
drones. It is expected that private companies and academic researchers will
also be able to test unmanned aircraft at the site. Researches expect that the
testing area could encourage research and development worth billions of
dollars. This research boosts the belief among Currituck County leaders that
approval of the site is vital to the region’s long aviation history. There are
currently no timetables set for approval. Counties in Maryland and Virginia are
also being considered.
For more Contact:
Think Currituck
P153 Courthouse Road, Suite 207
Currituck, NC 27929
Phone:
http://www.thinkcurrituck.com/
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